Indonesian Tourism Minister patronizes conference in Bali

H.E. Mr. Jero Wacik, Minister of Culture & Tourism, is one of the patrons of
the Third South and Southeast Asian Association for the Study of Culture and

H.E. Mr. Jero Wacik, Minister of Culture & Tourism, is one of the patrons of
the Third South and Southeast Asian Association for the Study of Culture and
Religion (SSEASR) Conference to be held in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, on June
3-6, 2009. With the theme ยณWaters in Southeast Asia: Interaction of Culture and
Religionยฒ the conference is under the auspices of UNESCO and hosted by the
Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) and Universitas Hindu Indonesia (UNHI) in
Denpasar.

The region of South and Southeast Asia has the largest geographical entities,
which has been contacted and connected by water. From the Arabian Sea to the
Indonesian Seas and river to river, crossing of the waters has not only carried
merchandise from port to port but also religions and socio-cultural elements.
Many great rivers, such as the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Salween,
Menam Chao Phraya, Mekong and Red River and their giant deltas embrace the
states and countries of South and Mainland Southeast Asia, where numerous
peoples in cities and villages have flourished.

Up until today, trade and religion went together, often followed by war and
destruction. What still remains are centers of pilgrimage scattered around the
region as well as rites and rituals related to water. This very role of waters,
in creating links between various cultures in the region through rivers and
seas, will be highlighted and it is about these ยณwatersยฒ that the conference is all about.

The SSEASR operates under the policies and principles of the parent body of the
International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR), which seeks to
promote the activities of all scholars and affiliates that contribute to the
historical, social, and comparative study of religion. So far, some 500
academics have confirmed their participation.

There will be a post-conference tour to Borobudur and Prambanam Temples near
Jogjakarta, which is already fully booked. Both monuments are also prominently
promoted to visit within the present Visit Indonesia Year 2009.

The Second SSEASR Conference was successfully organized at Bangkok in 2007,
while the First SSEASR Conference was inaugurated at New Delhi in 2005.

For further information, please go to the web-site www.sseasr.org or contact
GMS Media Travel Consultant Reinhard Hohler by e-mail: [email protected]

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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