The Student Activity Unit Forum (Forkom UKM) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) recently held an Interfaith Prayer on Thursday (Sep. 11) at 7:00 p.m. The program took place at the UGM Faith & Spirituality Center, located on Podocarpus I Street, Sendowo, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta.
The interfaith prayer was organized as a response to the current dynamics the nation is facing following recent demonstrations. Through this event, Forkom UKM UGM invited all elements of society to join in prayer for the well-being of Indonesia.
Chair of Forkom UKM UGM, Kobe, explained that in addition to public demonstrations, this initiative represents a religious response to the ongoing turbulence through interfaith prayer.
“At UGM, there are several student activity units in the field of spirituality, so we felt it was important to respond in this way,” Kobe stated.
The prayer gathering was also attended by UGM Secretary Dr. Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu, along with leaders of each UGM religious facility. The village head (dukuh) and local officials of Blimbingsari, the extended family of UGM Student Center (Gelanggang Mahasiswa), and several students were also present.
The program began with opening remarks, followed by a candlelighting procession and joint prayer. Prayers were led in rotation by four interfaith leaders: Reverend Risang Anggoro for Christianity, Ian Pasani for Buddhism, Joko Purwono for Islam, and Romo Prasetyo for Hinduism.
After the interfaith prayers, the event continued with a symbolic tumpeng cutting ceremony. The cutting was carried out by representatives, including religious leaders, the village head, and student representatives. This symbolic act not only represented unity across generations but also reflected equality among all social classes.
“The symbolic cutting of the tumpeng illustrates the unity of the academic community, society, students, and the royal court (keraton). It also reflects generational continuity, from students to the community, and then to the royal court, as a symbol of the state. It means we are united in safeguarding the nation’s integrity,” Romo Prasetyo said.
Romo Prasetyo further emphasized that the symbolism extended beyond the cutting of the tumpeng to the act of sharing a meal from a single plate. This represented the idea that all elements of society live and grow from the same motherland, Indonesia.
“When eating from one plate, it shows that we all live from the same land, without barriers, without ego, while maintaining unggah-ungguh (courtesy),” he remarked.
He went on to explain that the cone shape of the tumpeng symbolizes the One Almighty God. Its middle portion represents knowledge, while the base symbolizes religion and the norms of community life.
“The tumpeng is a symbol of well-being. Its peak represents God, the middle represents knowledge, and the base represents religion and society. All of this comes together within the foundations of Pancasila,” Prasetyo added.
Through the interfaith prayer event themed “Ruwat Bumi: Manunggaling Manah Kagem Rahayuning Nagari” (Purifying the Earth: Uniting Hearts for the Nation’s Harmony), participants were reminded to strengthen interfaith unity, foster intergenerational cooperation, and pray together for Indonesia’s recovery into a peaceful, harmonious, and prosperous nation.
“We hope that this nation can soon recover, returning to peace and harmony. Through interfaith and intergenerational unity, we can safeguard Indonesia’s integrity so it may become a nation of prosperity. Most importantly, sovereignty is not only the responsibility of one generation, but requires all elements to be involved and united,” Romo Prasetyo concluded.
Author: Alena
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photograph: Forkom UKM UGM