Sukmawati Sukarnoputri, the daughter of the first President of Indonesia, is converting to Hinduism from Islam. A news portal reports that she will embrace Hinduism at a formal ceremony on October 26th.

 In the ancestral land of the family, Singaraja, the Bali Agung Singaraja will conduct the conversion ceremony, Sudhi Wadani. It is a monument that honours her late father Sukarno, built near the house of her grandmother in North Bali.

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 to Hinduism because of her grandmother, Ida Ayu Nyoman Rai Srimben, a native of Bali. In an interesting coincidence, her conversion to Hinduism occurs on the same day that she turns 70. In an earlier conversation with Witaryono Rejsoprojo, Sukmawati Sukarnoputri's lawyer, he disclosed that his client was well versed in Hinduism.

“Yes, (her grandmother’s religion is the reason). The mother of ‘Bung Karno’ was Ida Nyoman, a Balinese noble person (bangsawan),” she said.

Sukmawati Sukarnoputri entrusted Arya Wedakarna, the head of the Sukarno Center in Bali, with the smooth conduct of the event. However, it remains unclear whether she will stay in Bali permanently. Her visits to Bali often included attending Hindu rituals.

According to a refugee of Bale Agung, Jro Made Arsana, the preparations are underway for the ceremony. “Everything has been decorated,” he stated. Arsana added that the pledge to convert will be made by Sukmawati Sukarnoputri in the presence of Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) management. He also recounted how the daughter of the first President would come to Bale Agung along with her siblings.

Sukmawati Sukarnoputri was previously invited to attend various Hindu ceremonies and spoke with religious leaders. As a result of her decision to convert, her brothers Guntur and Guruh Soekarnoputra, and sister Megawati Soekarnoputri, all supported her. As it turns out, even her children, Muhammad Putra Perwira Utama, Prince Haryo Paundrajarna Sumautra Jiwanegara, and Gusti Raden Ayu Putri Siniwati, agree with her decision.

An invitation card inviting people to attend the Sudhi Wadani was published by some Indonesian media houses and circulated on social media. But the family of Sukarnoputri has said that due to Covid-19 protocol, it will be only a small private ceremony on Tuesday, and the invitation card is only for close family members and relatives. The family has requested the members of public not to attend the ceremony even if they have received the invitation.

Interestingly, Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim country.

Image source: Republic world