Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, has finally given an official response regarding the Gunung Kawi phenomenon in East Java, which has recently returned to the public spotlight. This heated discussion surfaced after a visit by spiritual practitioner Marcel Radhival to the site, which subsequently sparked debates regarding the presence of ritual practices and pesugihan (wealth-seeking rituals) within society.
In his press statement, Fadli Zon views the phenomenon at Gunung Kawi as part of the mosaic of old traditions and culture that form part of Indonesia's social reality. According to him, every element of society has its own perspective in expressing cultural values, as long as it provides an economic impact for local residents and does not disrupt the social order.
Fadli Zon delivered this statement coinciding with the designation of July 13 as the Day of Belief in the Almighty God at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), Jakarta. He emphasized the importance of tolerance in responding to the diverse beliefs flourishing across the archipelago, as long as these practices do not violate the law or harm others.
On the other hand, a different perspective was offered by the East Java Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). The General Secretary of East Java MUI, Hasan Ubaidillah, issued a firm appeal to the public not to get caught up in unverified information and to be more critical regarding existing ritual practices.
Furthermore, East Java MUI specifically highlighted the practice of using offerings and certain rituals at Gunung Kawi. According to them, if an activity involves specific rituals aimed at requesting something outside religious tenets, it is categorized as a forbidden (haram) act. The public is urged to prioritize logic and objective facts when dealing with spiritual phenomena developing in their environment.
