REGIONAL NEWS
The Hindu Community Guidance Officer of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of North Sumatra, Elirosa Tarigan, officially presented a House of Worship Registration Certificate to Shri Mariamman Kuil Batang Kuis during the peak celebration of Thiruvila on Sunday.
The event, held at Shri Mariamman Temple on Jalan Raya Batang Kuis, Tanjung Sari Village, Batang Kuis District, Deli Serdang Regency, took place solemnly and was attended by Hindu devotees, community leaders, and local government representatives.
The handover of the house of worship registration certificate represented the government’s support through the Ministry of Religious Affairs in promoting proper administrative governance for places of worship while strengthening religious services for Hindu communities in North Sumatra.
In her remarks, Elirosa Tarigan emphasized that the legal recognition of houses of worship plays an important role in supporting sustainable community development and religious services.
“The handover of this house of worship registration certificate reflects the government’s attention and commitment through the Ministry of Religious Affairs in supporting religious services, legal recognition, and the development of Hindu communities for a better future,” she stated.
She also expressed appreciation for the sacred Thiruvila tradition, noting that it not only strengthens the sradha (faith) and bhakti (devotion) of the Hindu community, but also serves as a means of preserving Tamil Hindu cultural values and fostering harmony amid Indonesia’s diverse society.
The event was also attended by the Chairperson of the PHDI Kabupaten Deli Serdang, Hindu community leader Nadarajen, the Secretary of the Batang Kuis District Office, representatives of the Batang Kuis Police Sector, as well as the ritual leaders, Pinandita Murti and Pinandita Siwa.
Community leader Nadarajen expressed appreciation for the attention and presence of the Ministry of Religious Affairs through the Hindu Community Guidance Office of North Sumatra during the celebration.
“We would like to express our gratitude to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, particularly the Hindu Community Guidance Office of North Sumatra, for being present and showing concern for the Hindu community in Batang Kuis. This gives us encouragement to continue preserving unity and our religious traditions,” he remarked.
The Thiruvila celebration featured a series of religious rituals, joint prayers, and community guidance activities attended by Hindu communities from various regions across North Sumatra. The entire event proceeded in an orderly, safe, and spiritually uplifting atmosphere marked by togetherness among devotees.
Editor : I Made Juni Saputra
Photographer : I Gede Dipayana
Contributed and Translated by Muhammad Mahmud Alhushori
