SGI-Indonesia, Lesbumi, and KNPI will hold religious art festival

Jakarta, NU Online
Soka Gakkai International of Indonesia (SGI-Indonesia) in collaboration with the Institute of Indonesian Muslim Artists and Culturalists (Lesbumi) of Nahdlatul Ulama and the Indonesian Youth National Committee (KNPI) would imminently hold a cultural event so-called as "Religious Art Festival for Peace".

The event that would reportedly be attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and President of Soka Gakkai International Daisaku Ikeda would be held at the Jakarta's International Event and Convention Center on 13 July ahead.<>

The much-awaited event is aimed at both promoting the spirit of brotherhood and tolerance among religious adherents and giving a comprehensive understanding of the importance of religious art and culture.

Secretary General of the Lesbumi, M. Dienaldo told NU Online here Tuesday (24/6), the purposeful event was such a strategic breakthrough in reinvigorating religious values and spirit having increasingly been vulnerable.

"We hope this event would stir up our religious spirit so we can sit together in dialog and deepen cooperation in helping solve any human problems," Dienaldo said.

While Shinji Ushioda of the Soka Gakkai International during his visit to the NU headquarters in Jakarta recently said that the religious art event could be considered as a means to promote the importance of cultural exchange.

Ushioda was of view the event should most of the time be carried out for its glorious message to seed human values.

In the meantime, Ushioda also expressed his appreciation for the NU as a religious organization whose similar ideas with the Soka Gakkai in helping create peace and tolerance among religious adherents.

"We are very pleased to come the this (NU) headquarters. We hope we can constantly strengthen cooperation and friendship with the NU," he said.

Ushioda accompanied by Takesi Kurihara (SGI), Tetsuji Taguchi (SGI-Indonesia) and scores of KNPI's officials said that the SGI was "a Buddhist association with 12 million members in 190 countries around the world". (dar)