The Prambanan Shiva Festival runs for roughly a month at the temple complex, from January 17 until mid-February, and culminates in the celebration of Mahashivaratri, one of the most important sacred dates in Hinduism. During this period, rituals, cultural events, and community activities are held that reflect values of spirituality, harmony, and religious tolerance, turning the historic site into a living space where heritage and tradition come together in a high-symbolism tourism experience.
One of the most emblematic moments of the program is the Dipa Festival, a ceremony in which thousands of oil lamps are lit alongside the sound of traditional damaru instruments, creating a ceremonial atmosphere that enhances the sensory and emotional dimension of the visit. These kinds of activities not only reinforce the destination’s cultural identity, but also generate a direct impact on the local economy by mobilizing small businesses, artists, artisans, hotels, and tourism services linked to the event.
Tourism authorities stress that the festival’s positioning also responds to growing global interest in spiritual and pilgrimage tourism, a segment that benefits from the increase in the Hindu population worldwide, estimated at around 12% over the last decade, mainly in the Asia-Pacific region. This demographic and cultural context strengthens the strategic potential of Prambanan Temple, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 and considered a masterpiece of 9th-century Hindu architecture.
Beyond its religious value, the festival incorporates contemporary cultural proposals such as art exhibitions, artwork auctions, and visual performances, designed to foster a dialogue between historical heritage and present-day creativity. In the 2026 edition, around 150 artists from different regions took part, and their works inspired by the temple offered new aesthetic interpretations of the monument and broadened the event’s cultural reach.
From an institutional standpoint, the project also aims to consolidate Prambanan not only as a historic monument, but as a living heritage site whose sacred character must be preserved. Authorities emphasize that balancing heritage conservation, tourism activity, and religious function is essential to ensure the destination’s sustainability and to make sure that growth in visitor numbers does not compromise the site’s integrity or its spiritual meaning.
The strategic approach also seeks to strengthen Indonesia’s international image as a destination able to offer deep and authentic cultural experiences beyond conventional tourism. In this regard, the festival is presented as a platform for cultural diplomacy that projects values of interfaith coexistence and diversity, while promoting global awareness of the country’s historic heritage.
The push to elevate the Prambanan Shiva Festival is part of a broader trend in Indonesia’s tourism policy focused on promoting high-impact events that can generate international visibility, attract investment, and stimulate regional development. In the case of Yogyakarta and adjacent areas, the strengthening of this event is expected to help consolidate the region as one of Southeast Asia’s main cultural hubs and a preferred destination for travelers interested in history, spirituality, and heritage.
With this strategy, Indonesia aims to turn the festival into a global annual benchmark, capable of placing Prambanan Temple on the map of the world’s major cultural and spiritual events and consolidating its role as a symbol of identity, heritage, and sustainable tourism development.
