Indonesian ex-President Sukarno’s daughter converts from Islam to Hinduism
27 Oct 2021 11:32:06
Bali, October 27: In a major development, Indonesia's founding father and first president, Sukarno's daughter Sukmawati Sukarnoputri formally re-converted to Hinduism from Islam on Tuesday.
Sukarnoputri is the daughter of Indonesia’s founding president Sukarno and the third wife Fatmawati. She is also the sister of the 5th President of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri. She was married to Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Arya Mangkunegara IX but got divorced in 1984.
She converted into Hinduism in a ritual called 'Sudhi Wadani'. The ceremony took place at the Sukarno Centre Heritage Area, named after her father, located inside the Buleleng Regency in Bali.The ceremony coincided with her 70th birthday. Before her conversion, she sought the blessings of her sister Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Sudhi Wadani is a ceremony during which an individual professes allegiance to Hinduism and performs self-purification. To partake in the ceremony, an individual must adhere to the religious tenets of Hinduism and complete legal obligations.
In 2018, Sukmawati was accused of reciting a poem, which insulted Islam. The hardline Islamic groups in the country also filed a blasphemy complaint against her.
Sukmawati is one of the high-profile people in the country who has disavowed her allegiance to Islam and embraced Hinduism. Sukmawati’s decision to convert to Hinduism was influenced by her grandmother Ida Ayu Nyoman Rai Srimben, who hailed from Bali. She was supported by her brothers, Guntur Soekarnoputra, and Guruh Soekarnoputra, and sister Megawati Soekarnoputri. Even her children, namely, Muhammad Putra Perwira Utama, Prince Haryo Paundrajarna Sumautra Jiwanegara, and Gusti Raden Ayu Putri Siniwati had accepted her decision.
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