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Sunday, December 20, 2009

Buddhist prayers for Indian Ocean tsunami victims in Aceh

The Jakarta Post | Sun, 12/20/2009 6:23 PM


Never forget: A Buddhist prayer leader places flowers at a mass cemetery for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Ulee Lheu, Banda Aceh on Sunday. Nearly 230,000 people around the region were killed in the disaster. (Antara/Irwansyah Putra)

Hundreds of Buddhist residents on Sunday joined a prayer in front of a mass cemetery for people who died in the deadly 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that hit Aceh five years ago.

The followers also took part in other rituals such as releasing flowers and lanterns to the Ulee Lheu Sea.

One of the event’s organizers, Yuswar, told news portal tempointeraktif.com this commemoration was aimed at praying for the Buddhists killed during the disaster.

“The rituals will continue until Dec. 26,” Yuswar added.

Apart from Buddhists, Islamic followers will hold similar prayers on Dec. 26.

Nearly 230,000 people around the region were killed when a tsunami, triggered by a 7.9-magnitude undersea earthquake, hit on Dec. 26, 2004. (ewd)

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Buddhists pray and release offerings to the sea at Uleelheu beach, Banda Aceh, on Sunday as part of commemorations of the upcoming anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which left 170,000 people dead or missing and 500,000 homeless in the province of 4 million people. (Photo: Tarmizy Harva, Reuters)


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