The Story Behind the 32 Monks Who Walked from Thailand to Borobudur Temple
In the last few days, social media has been lively with photos and videos containing dozens of monks walking from Thailand to Borobudur Temple, Magelang Regency, Central Java.
This monk is walking in a series of celebrating Vesak 2023 or 2567 BE in June.
Chairman of Thudong International Welly Widadi said this was the first time this ritual had been carried out in Indonesia and was recorded in the Indonesian Record Museum (Muri).
"This thudong ritual is like a trail, where it is carried out from Thailand on foot to Malaysia and walking to Singapore," Welly told Kompas.com, Sunday (14/5/2023).
"From Singapore, take a ferry to Batam, from Batam take a plane to Jakarta. From Jakarta, walk directly to Borobudur Temple," he continued.
According to him, the 32 monks from Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia started walking two months ago.
Despite walking thousands of kilometers across several countries, Welly said they didn't bring money and only ate two meals a day.
"They don't really have any money with them. The monk only eats twice a day until 12 noon. After 12 noon he doesn't eat at all, but drinking is still allowed as long as it doesn't contain milk," he explained.
To meet their needs, Buddhists in various areas passed by usually voluntarily provide shelter and food.
Not only Buddhists, these monks were also warmly welcomed by members of other religions.
Cerita di Balik 32 Biksu yang Berjalan Kaki dari Thailand Menuju Candi Borobudur
Dalam beberapa hari terakhir, media sosial diramaikan dengan foto dan video berisi puluhan biksu yang sedang berjalan kaki dari Thailand menuju Candi Borobudur, Kabupaten Magelang, Jawa Tengah.
Biksu ini berjalan kaki dalam rangkaian merayakan Waisak 2023 atau 2567 BE pada Juni mendatang.
Ketua Thudong Internasional Welly Widadi mengatakan, ritual ini baru pertama kali dilakukan di Indonesia dan tercatat dalam Museum Rekor Indonesia (Muri).
"Ritual thudong ini seperti napak tilas, di mana dilakukan dari Thailand berjalan kaki menuju Malaysia dan berjalan menuju Singapura," kata Welly kepada Kompas .com, Minggu (14/5/2023).
"Dari Singapura naik kapal feri menuju Batam, dari Batam naik pesawat ke Jakarta. Dari jakarta langsung jalan kaki ke Candi Borobudur," sambungnya.
Menurutnya, 32 biksu yang berasal dari Indonesia, Thailand, dan Malaysia tersebut mulai berjalan sejak dua bulan yang lalu.
Meski berjalan ribuan kilometer melintasi beberapa negara, Welly menyebut mereka tidak membawa uang dan hanya makan dua kali dalam satu hari.
"Mereka memang tidak membawa uang. Biksu itu sehari hanya makan dua kali sampai jam 12 siang. Setelah jam 12 siang tidak makan sama sekali, tapi minum tetap diperbolehkan asal tidak mengandung susu," jelas dia.
Untuk memenuhi kebutuhannya, para umat Buddha di berbagai daerah yang dilewati biasanya secara sukarela menyediakan tempat tinggal dan makanan.
Bukan hanya dari kalangan umat Buddha, para biksu ini juga disambut hangat oleh beberapa umat beragama lainnya.