Jakarta, Feb. 16 -- The Indonesian government is seeking to position the Prambanan Shiva Festival as a flagship national tourism event, highlighting Prambanan Temple as a world-class cultural and spiritual destination.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Puspa said on Monday that the festival is expected to help increase domestic and international tourist visits.

"From a tourism perspective, the Prambanan Shiva Festival is projected to become a flagship program capable of boosting tourist arrivals," she said in a statement.

She noted that the festival, which culminates in the Mahashivaratri celebration on February 15-16, is not only a religious observance but also a tourism event that can support the local economic ecosystem.

Mahashivar...