Do you remember hearing the news last year about a group of Buddhist monks from Thailand walking all the way to Borobudur Temple ahead of the Waisak celebration? Well, they’re back this year too! But do you know what this tradition is all about and why these monks choose to travel such great distances on foot for Waisak? Let us take you on a brief journey to understand the story behind Thudong.

Thudong is a spiritual pilgrimage undertaken by Buddhist monks, involving a long-distance journey on foot covering thousands of kilometers. This tradition is more than just a walk. It is a spiritual practice that honors the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. It reflects his journey in search of enlightenment and spiritual awakening, and through it, devotees strive to preserve and carry forward the noble values exemplified by the Buddha.

In 2023, this thudong journey began in Thailand and concluded at the sacred Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java. This year, a similar pilgrimage is taking place again. Monks from various countries, including Thailand, are making the spiritual journey on foot to Borobudur.

While the pilgrimage is deeply meaningful for the Buddhist community, it also serves as a powerful reminder for the people of Indonesia to embrace harmony and uphold religious tolerance in everyday life.

Fascinating and inspiring, isn’t it? Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) will also take part in welcoming the monks with a special event called Cahaya Harapan Semesta—a welcoming and ceremonial send-off for the 2024 Thudong pilgrimage to #WaisakdiBorobudur.

Don’t miss this unique cultural and spiritual celebration, where you can also take part in the lantern release during the Waisak Festival on May 14, 2024, at Archipelago Lake, TMII.

For more information, visit www.tamanmini.com and follow us on Instagram at @tmiiofficial.

See you there, Explorer Friends!