Digital transformation is beginning to reshape religious services for the Hindu community in Banten Province. The Banten Provincial Chapter of Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) has officially launched the JAGAThita application (Jaringan Global Umat Hitakarana), a digital platform designed to strengthen religious services, community development, and organizational governance for Hindus. This innovation was developed through collaboration with the Hindu Religious Counselor (Pembimas Hindu) of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Banten Province.
The launch of the application, themed “Digitalisasi Pelayanan Umat Hindu” marks a strategic step toward providing religious services that are faster, more accessible, and better integrated amid rapid developments in information technology. JAGAThita is expected to address the Hindu community’s growing need for adaptive services while supporting modern and transparent organizational governance.
Chairperson of PHDI Banten Province, IB Alit Wiratmaja, stated that digitalization is part of the organization’s broader effort to expand service coverage while strengthening communication between the institution and Hindu communities across various regions.
“JAGAThita has been introduced as a platform for both service and guidance that can be accessed more easily by the Hindu community. Through this application, we aim to build a service ecosystem that is effective, transparent, and capable of responding to the community’s needs in the digital era,” said IB Alit Wiratmaja.
Echoing this view, Eko Sudono, Head of Hindu Community Guidance at the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Banten Province, emphasized that technological utilization is a crucial step in improving the quality of religious services. According to him, digital transformation not only accelerates the dissemination of information but also strengthens continuous religious guidance for the community.
“The digitalization of services has become an unavoidable necessity. Through JAGAThita, the public can access religious information, organizational services, and various educational resources more conveniently, making services to the Hindu community more effective and impactful,” he said.
JAGAThita was developed as an integrated service ecosystem encompassing religious services, community data management, organizational administration, donation services (punia), and digital transactions through QRIS payment features. The application also offers a range of educational features, including Pencerahan Tatwa (Tatwa Enlightenment), Admin Menjawab (Admin Answers), and Umat Bertanya (Community Questions), providing interactive spaces for users to gain information and deepen their understanding of Hindu teachings.
Viewed from governance perspective, the application employs a closed-loop system, ensuring that only users verified by administrators can access its full range of services. Its management is supported by a tiered administrative system, from district to provincial levels, with centralized content supervision to maintain the quality, validity, and accountability of information.
The development of JAGAThita’s content involves various stakeholders, including PHDI, Hindu Community Guidance, Banjar, Paruman Pandita, Paruman Walaka, and Hindu Religious Counselors. This collaboration is expected to deliver religious services that are not only technology-based but also grounded in credible Hindu teachings and aligned with the needs of the community.
The launch of JAGAThita forms part of broader efforts to accelerate the digital transformation of Hindu religious services in Banten. Through this innovation, PHDI Banten Province hopes to broaden access to services, strengthen professional organizational governance, and enhance community development in line with technological advancements and the evolving needs of society.
Editor : I Made Juni Saputra
Photographer : I Gede Dipayana
Contributed and translated by Muhammad Mahmud Alhushori
