Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, is hoping Hollywood star power will facilitate boost its international profile.Actor Richard Gere, who starred in 1990 hit “Pretty girl,” can travel to the famous Buddhist temple next weekend at the invite of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Gere, a widely known Buddhist and advocate of human rights in Tibet, can arrive in Jakarta next Saturday then travel to Magelang for the subsequent 2 days.
The ministry hopes the visit can boost tourism and facilitate meet the target of 440,000 foreign guests to Borobudur this year, said ministry spokesman Sapta Nirwandar.
“It took nearly a year to ask and convince him that Indonesia is currently safe to go to, particularly Borobudur Temple, considering the eruption of Mount Merapi last year,” he told a press conference on Friday.
Purnomo Siswoprasetjo, the president director of Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, said Gere was scheduled to hitch the Morning Peace Walk with temple monks .
“He is additionally scheduled to look at a Sendratari Mahakarya Borobudur [The Masterpiece of Borobudur Ballet] that is just performed twice a year,” he said.
But Gary Plant, a consultant for the ministry who helped organize the visit, said the visit was additional non secular in nature.
“This may be a pilgrimage for him and his family,” he said, adding Gere wasn't returning as a Hollywood star. “He asked for a visit that's as non-public as doable.”
Hardy Cung, a member of the Indonesian Buddhist community, said Gere would retrace a number of the steps of Atista, the carrier of Buddhism, “who came to Borobudur Temple one,000 years ago before he visited Tibet to unfold the teaching.”
“Gere may be a smart Buddhist,” Hardy said. “Although he won't do the total ritual in Borobudur, it’s enough to indicate his respect for Borobudur Temple as a part of Buddhist history.”
Gere also will plant a boddhi tree, another Buddhist ritual.
After visiting Borobudur, Gere is scheduled to go to the neighboring Buddhist temples of Pawon and Mendut and therefore the Hindu temple of Prambanan.
“His visit can conclude with a dinner with Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengku Buwono X at the palace,” Purnomo said.
The 62-year-old Gere starred in hits “Runaway Bride” and “Amelia,” however in recent years has reduced his on-screen presence as his humanitarian work has grown.
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