Borobudur Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Borobudur, Central Java, Indonesia)



The stunning Borobudur Temple has long been the site of annual celebrations, with local festivals and religious events drawing huge numbers of visitors here each year. However, there are really just two events held at the Borobudur Temple, which are of particular importance when it comes to the very best things to do and see.

Each May, the Waisak Festival sees literally thousands of pilgrims trek to the Borobudur Temple, arriving to celebrate the birth of Buddha, his enlightenment and the whole idea of the transcendent state known as 'nirvana'. The pilgrims are also joined by large groups of Buddhist monks, who are often dressed in bright yellow robes and gather on large crowds outside of the temple, to pray as early at 07:00 in the morning.


Borobudur Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

The Waisak Festival at the Borobudur Temple always commences on the night of the full moon and lasts several days. At the end of the event, a candlelit procession arrives from the nearby Mendut Temple (Candi Mendut), which lies just 3 km / 2 miles to the east.

The following month of June sees the arrival of the Borobudur Festival, where a real mixture of events take place. These include everything from Ramayana-style music and dancing, to folk dancing, local handicraft competitions, and even white-water rafting expeditions on the nearby Elo River.