Buddhists Condemn Dancing at Borobudur; TWB Apology
- Borobudur Temple management and Buddhist leaders have strongly condemned a video circulating online depicting disrespectful behavior at the sacred site.
- The video's content has not been publicly detailed, but it was deemed offensive enough to warrant a formal response from both religious authorities and the temple's governing body.
- Bhante Ditthisampanno, speaking at the catra Jinadhammo Education and Training center in Borobudur Village, Magelang Regency, on Thursday, December 4, 2025, stated, "We represent all Buddhists in condemning...
borobudur Temple Management Condemns Disrespectful Video, Investigates Potential Blacklisting
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Incident Overview
Borobudur Temple management and Buddhist leaders have strongly condemned a video circulating online depicting disrespectful behavior at the sacred site. The incident, believed to have occurred two days prior to December 4, 2025, prompted an apology from Borobudur Tourism Park (TWB) and an examination into potential sanctions against the perpetrator.
The video’s content has not been publicly detailed, but it was deemed offensive enough to warrant a formal response from both religious authorities and the temple’s governing body.
Buddhist community Response
Bhante Ditthisampanno, speaking at the catra Jinadhammo Education and Training center in Borobudur Village, Magelang Regency, on Thursday, December 4, 2025, stated, ”We represent all Buddhists in condemning this incident.” He urged the individual responsible to recognize their mistake and issue a sincere apology,emphasizing the strong disapproval of such actions within the Buddhist community.
TWB’s Response and Actions
Ridwan Abdilah Fauzi, Head of Stakeholder Management & Legal Division at TWB, issued an apology and confirmed that immediate action was taken to address the situation. TWB identified the account that uploaded the video and requested its removal from the platform.
“As a follow-up, we have carried out identification and requested that the video be taken down instantly,” Ridwan stated. The TWB is currently investigating the possibility of blacklisting the individual responsible from future visits to Borobudur Temple.
TWB is verifying the perpetrator’s identity data and the date of their visit to confirm the incident occurred as suspected, approximately two days before December 4, 2025.
Strengthened Visitor Education
TWB emphasized the importance of respecting the sanctity and spiritual significance of Borobudur Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. To prevent similar incidents, TWB plans to enhance coordination with Pamong Stories – local guides and cultural custodians - to improve visitor education and promote responsible tourism.
The temple management reiterated its appeal to all tourists to maintain ethical conduct, respect places of worship, and preserve the sacredness of Borobudur for future generations.