Prambanan Shiva Festival Targets World-Class Spiritual Tourism

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is stepping up efforts to position the Prambanan Temple as a leading global destination for spiritual and cultural tourism by elevating the Prambanan Shiva Festival into a flagship national tourism agenda.

Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Luh Puspa said the festival, which culminates in the Hindu holy day of Mahashivaratri, is expected to strengthen the temple’s standing as a world-class spiritual destination while increasing both domestic and international tourist arrivals.

“From a tourism perspective, the Prambanan Shiva Festival is expected to become a flagship program capable of increasing visits from domestic and international tourists,” Ni Luh said while attending the Mahashivaratri ceremony at the Prambanan Temple complex in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, as quoted on the Ministry's official website.

She said the festival not only serves as a religious celebration but also offers meaningful travel experiences while stimulating the local economy.

Cultural events, such as the festival, support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), artists, hotels, and other tourism-related service sectors in the surrounding area.

Mahashivaratri, the most sacred day dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Hindu calendar, marks the peak of the Prambanan Shiva Festival, which has run since January 17, 2026. The holy day is observed through night-long prayers, rituals, and cultural performances reflecting spiritual values, harmony, and tolerance.

One of the main highlights is the Festival Dipa, featuring the lighting of thousands of oil lamps accompanied by the sound of the damaru drum, creating a solemn atmosphere across the temple compound. The ritual symbolizes unity in prayer and hopes for global peace and prosperity.

A video mapping projection on the temple complex further enhances the spiritual message and sense of togetherness. “This symbolizes unity in spiritual harmony and interfaith tolerance,” Ni Luh said.

The deputy minister noted that global tourism trends are shifting toward higher-quality and sustainable travel experiences, with visitors increasingly seeking deeper connections with local culture, communities, and the environment.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991, Prambanan Temple, a ninth-century Hindu architectural masterpiece, holds significant potential to expand spiritual and pilgrimage tourism, she added.

Data shows that the global Hindu population has grown by around 12 percent over the past decade, with 99 percent residing in the Asia-Pacific region. The trend underscores the importance of managing sacred heritage sites such as Prambanan not only as tourist attractions but also as respected spiritual spaces.

“We hope that events like the Prambanan Shiva Festival will bring the temple to life, not merely as a monument but as a living monument whose sacredness we preserve together,” Ni Luh said.

In addition to the Mahashivaratri ceremony, the festival’s peak program includes an International Conference–Prambanan Shiva Festival, held at Wisnu Mandala within the temple complex and featuring speakers from various countries. ***