Religious greetings in Indonesia are usually said when you would like to open a speech, presentation, or greet someone you meet.
It is different from Western countries where people say hello or good morning to greet each other. Religious greetings are most commonly used in Indonesia.
The greetings follow six recognized religions: Islam, Protestant, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
Religious Greetings in Indonesia
The religious greetings are inseparable for the people of Indonesia. You may use these greetings when you visit the country, especially in an official gathering or event.
But if you prefer not to use it, it is fine since the Indonesian respect the differences. Of course, you still can say Hello, Hi, Good morning, good afternoon, and so on.
Islam
The most common greeting in Islam is “Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh”. For an informal occasion, you can say briefly, “Assalamualaikum.”
Christianity
The greeting in Christianity (Protestant and Catholic) is “Salam Sejahtera Bagi Kita Semua” or Syalom, which derives from the Hebrew “Shalom.”
In English, the Christians usually say, “May Peace Be Upon Us All.”
Hinduism
Hindus in Indonesia say “Om Swastyastu,” which derives from the Sanskrit “Svastyastu.”
This greeting is characteristic of Hindus in Indonesia since it’s different from Hindus in India who usually say “Namaste” or “Namaskar”.
Buddhism
The religious greeting used for Buddhism in Indonesia is “Namo Buddhaya”. You can say it to greet the Buddhists in Indonesia.
Confucianism
Confucianism is the last officially recognized religion in Indonesia. The greeting used for Confucianism in Indonesian is “Salam Kebajikan” or “We De Dong Tian.”
Read: The Alternative Spot for Watching Sunset in North Sulawesi Indonesia
Indonesian people upholds the tolerance between religious community. The followers of one religion sometimes say greetings that belong to other religions.
Moreover, the five greetings from six religions is always being said by the government officials or public figure in their remarks or speech.
Indonesia also has a diverse culture that you can learn and experience and with plenty of tourism attraction for you to have unforgettable trips in this country.
