The religious tourism area of Mount Kawi has suddenly become a hot topic online after being linked once again to mystical rumors of “pesugihan” (wealth-seeking rituals). This viral phenomenon has triggered serious responses from various parties, ranging from the central government to the management of the tourist destination, in order to correct the public's mistaken perception.
Minister of Culture Fadli Zon shared his view that Mount Kawi is a representation of the rich traditions and culture of the Indonesian archipelago (Nusantara) that are deeply rooted in society. He considers differences in public perspective when interpreting historical and spiritual sites to be normal.
According to Fadli, the existence of religious areas like Mount Kawi should be respected as a social reality. This is on the condition that the activities taking place there have a positive economic impact on local residents, protect the environment, and do not damage existing public facilities.
Meanwhile, the management of Mount Kawi's religious tourism, through an official statement on social media, strongly denied the negative accusations. They emphasized that this historical destination is actually a place for pilgrimage, worship, and interfaith tolerance, not a location for instant wealth-seeking rituals.
The management regretted the rise of digital content aimed at chasing popularity, which has shifted the positive image of Mount Kawi. Mystical narratives are considered to spread faster than stories of tolerance, the history of civilization, and ancestral respect, which form the main foundation of this legendary pilgrimage site.
Through this clarification, it is hoped that the public can view Mount Kawi holistically as a national cultural heritage of high historical value, as well as a driver of the local economy through a healthy tourism sector.
