Derived from the Sanskrit words puja (devotion, worship) and mandala (space), the worship complex is now one of the jewels of Bali, an island known for its religious tolerance and multi-ethnicity. Perched on a 2.5-hectare plot of land in an area dense with glittering star-rated hotels and villas, Puja Mandala offers a different and serene atmosphere.
It was actually an ambitious mega project commissioned by president Soeharto’s New Order regime to former tourism minister Joop Ave, who at that time was still director general for tourism, post and telecommunication. In 1980, Joop lodged his idea to build a worship complex that housed buildings for all the religions in Bali. The idea became a reality when the president agreed to the plan to develop a worship complex in Bualu village near Nusa Dua in 1994. The project was finished three years later and officially inaugurated by then-minister of religious affairs, Tarmizi Taher.
The worship complex is home to Ibnu Baitullah Mosque, which stands right next to Maria Bunda Segala Bangsa Catholic Church. Next to the Catholic Church is the Budhina Guna Buddhist Temple. The Bukit Doa Protestant Church stands side-by-side with the Jagat Natha Hindu Temple.
Visitors, domestic and foreign, flock to Puja Mandala to praise the beautifully designed places of worship, each with its own distinguished architectural style.
But the real essence of religious tolerance shines during religious celebrations when all people, worship congregations, local communities and visitors alike, work together to make the celebrations a success. During Galungan and Kuningan, Hindu believers pray at the lavishly decorated temple, while other worshipers help prepare for the event and the local community helps safeguard the place. Similarly, during other religious celebrations, Idul Fitri, Christmas and Waisak, people may witness the togetherness, respect and tolerance that are the basic philosophies of Puja Mandala worship complex.