An explainer links Prambanan Temple to Indonesia’s legal recognition of Hinduism and the state’s monotheistic framework.
GS1GS2EssayThe HinduGS1Religion and society in IndonesiaConstitutional recognition of religionHinduism
What happened
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Indonesia’s Prambanan Temple is linked to a wider explainer on how Indonesia recognises religion in law and public administration. Prambanan is described as an ancient UNESCO World Heritage Hindu temple complex, and the explainer places it within Indonesia’s formal recognition of Hinduism.
Background and earlier position
Indonesia is described as having a constitutional-style expectation of monotheism, even while guaranteeing religious freedom. The state recognises six religions through a framework established in 1965: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
The explainer says that Hinduism did not initially satisfy earlier recognition criteria because it was not treated as sufficiently monotheistic. In 1952, Hinduism was reportedly rejected under state rules on that ground.
