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Mon, 19 May 2025
JIMBARAN – Widiatmika Kindergarten celebrated Vesak Day with warmth and meaning on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The celebration, held in a classroom transformed into a simple yet meaningful space, brought together children, teachers, and staff to embrace the spirit of Vesak with joy, tolerance, and compassion.
With the theme "Sharing Love with All of God's Creatures," this celebration was part of Widiatmika Kindergarten's character education program, designed to introduce children to the values of diversity and mutual respect. It was not just for Buddhist students but included children from various religious backgrounds, fostering an inclusive learning environment.
Ni Ketut Arcani, a teacher at Widiatmika Kindergarten, explained that the Vesak celebration was designed to be simple yet meaningful, making it easy for young children to understand.
“We celebrated Vesak in a simple yet meaningful way. The children started with a joint prayer according to their respective religions, followed by watching a video about the meaning and traditions of Vesak in various countries. Through this, they learned that diversity is something beautiful,” Arcani said.
The event continued with the cutting of a rice cone (tumpeng), a symbol of celebration, by Buddhist children, accompanied by the principal, teachers, and staff. The children also expressed their creativity by coloring pictures of Buddha statues and singing Vesak-themed children’s songs. The song “Happy Vesak Day” was performed together with great enthusiasm.
According to Arcani, the celebration was more than just an introduction to a religious tradition. It was a platform to instill the values of Pancasila, especially the first and fifth principles: Belief in One Almighty God and Social Justice for All Indonesian People.
“We want children to understand that every religion teaches love and compassion. They learn to live side by side in diversity, which is something to be proud of,” she added.
As an inclusive educational institution, Widiatmika Kindergarten is committed to creating a safe and equal learning environment. This commitment is reflected not only in the curriculum approach but also in thematic activities like this Vesak celebration, which teaches children about love, compassion, and respect for all living beings.
“We use simple and universal language so that all children can understand the meaning of Vesak, regardless of their religious background,” Arcani explained.
Dressed in white and yellow attire, the children were enthusiastic throughout the activities, from praying together, coloring, to singing as a group. This atmosphere reflected the primary goal of character education at Widiatmika Kindergarten, which is to shape individuals who are not only intellectually capable but also socially empathetic and emotionally mature.
Through this Vesak celebration, children learned universal values such as love, tolerance, and togetherness. They understood that differences are not barriers but treasures to be celebrated together.
“We believe that if these values are instilled early, they will grow into individuals who are tolerant, open-minded, and ready to live in a diverse world,” Arcani concluded.
The Vesak celebration at Widiatmika Kindergarten proved that tolerance education can begin at a young age. In a simple classroom, children learned about diversity, love, and genuine respect for one another.
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