Tourism Trumps Devotees in Some Indonesian Temples

Source: www.thejakartapost.com
Saturday,March27,2010

JAKARTA, INDONESIA, : Hindus in Yogyakarta have voiced complaints claiming to face difficulties when praying at ancient temples across the province. Indonesian Hindu Dharma Association Yogyakarta branch chairman Ida Bagus Agung said in many cases Hindus were forced to pay to enter such temples and were occasionally prohibited from praying. He also said many of the temples had been altered to serve the tourism industry.

“[The trouble] is not just in Yogyakarta, but also in East Java and Kalimantan,” Agung said, adding that these temples were as important temples of Balinese Hindus.