Photo essay: Yogyakarta - the city of graffiti

December 1, 2013 newzzit

Yogyakarta is the hub of Javanese culture in Indonesia, which has seamlessly integrated cultural traits of Hinduism and Buddhism, with Islam

Even though, the people of Java are mainly Muslims, they are very proud of their links with other cultures and religions. On top of it, the most striking feature of the city is the omnipresence of graffiti on almost every wall around the city, presenting a very liberal face of Indonesia. To quote the Lonely Planet, "Yogyakarta is where the Javanese language is at its purest, arts at their brightest and its traditions at their most visible."

Every corner, every wall, is full of graffitti Even the ruins are not spared Comic characters make their presence felt too Political statements are also not far behind Naughty ones as well Some are just too pretty Abstract versions for modern art lovers Probably the most artistic landfill ever A unique initiative Borobudur Mahayana Buddhist temple near Yogyakarta dating back to the 9th century, a UNESCO world heritage site A local guide explaining Buddha's eighth-fold path to Nirvana signified by the temple complex As the temple had gone through a series of earthquakes, lootings, and abandoment over centuries, massive restoration works were undertaken by the Indonesian government with help from UN agencies. If the original positions of the Buddha statues in the temple were not found, the statues were not put back, maintaining the sacredness of the original design. Prambanan Hindu temple complex near Yogyakarta; a 9th century UNESCO world heritage site Restoration works at Prambanan The Hindu epic Ramayana being performed at the open-air stage inside the Prambanan temple complex