Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo Visits Lord Venkateswara Temple, Video Surprises Many

Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo paid a visit to the famous Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, on Thursday. Officials of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) welcomed him warmly and escorted him for the darshan.

New Delhi: Joko Widodo, the former President of Indonesia, visited the renowned Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala on Thursday. The TTD officials received him and guided him through the temple for the darshan. After the visit, he was honored with silk garments, prasadam (holy offerings), and a framed picture of Lord Venkateswara.

This visit is noteworthy as Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, has a rich Hindu and Buddhist heritage. It was once ruled by Hindu and Buddhist kings, and even today, several prominent Hindu temples exist across the country.

Viral on Social Media:
The video of Widodo’s temple visit quickly went viral. Major Surendra Poonia wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Former Indonesian President Mr. Joko Widodo, who is Muslim, performed darshan and worship at the Tirupati Balaji Temple. This is a testimony to the global respect for Sanatan Dharma. Hopefully, no cleric will issue a fatwa against Mr. Widodo.”

Indonesia’s Unique Cultural Heritage:
Indonesia, with a population of around 270 million—90% of whom are Muslim—was historically a center of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms. Often referred to as the “Land of the Hermits,” the country still shows a deep influence of Hindu culture, with the Ramayana enjoying widespread reverence.