Ajanta Caves a UNESCO World Heritage Site and place of pilgrimage for Indonesian Buddhists and Buddhists from around the world
Indonesia has a rich history of cultural exchange with India with regards to Buddhism and Hinduism. Indonesia whilst a majority Muslim country does have close ties to its Hindu and Buddhist ancient past and this can be seen in the Hindu province of Bali and the influential Buddhist Chinese community.
Indonesia has maintained a strong connection with its cultural bond with India. Indeed, Indonesia’s state coat of arms is called Garuda Pancasila and is named after the Golden Eagle of Lord Vishnu common to both Buddhism and Hinduism. The state coat of arms was supervised and implemented by the 1st President of Indonesia, Sukarno. Indonesia’s state airline carrier is also named after Garuda.
Buddhism and Hinduism’ influence is a source of pride for many in Indonesia and in respecting their legacy.
Vedan Choolun Co-Founder of Ajanta Heritage and Culture sees great opportunity in cultural exchange between Indonesians and Indians with regards to Buddhist and Hindu cultural places. “Our shared cultural heritage can be preserved in time immemorial thanks to the latest digitization and storage techniques and we are excited to welcome Indonesians interested in reconnecting culturally with Hinduism and Buddhism to participate”.
Ashwin Srivastav, Co-Founder of Ajanta Heritage and Culture further believes that the digitization of sacred Buddhist and Hindu sites across India is paramount and to build a bridge with Indonesia is a crucial part of this effort.
Add Comment