M

uslims in the city observed Idul Adha, the Islamic Day of Sacrifice, on Sunday by slaughtering thousands of sacrificial animals and joyously consuming meat with families and friends.

Major roads in the capital were deserted throughout Sunday with the majority of Jakartans opting to stay at home for the holiday.

Large crowds, however, formed early on Sunday when Muslims went to mosques and open fields to perform the Idul Adha prayers.

At the Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta, the establishment slaughtered 60 cows and 29 goats. Two of the cows were donated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono. The Turkish community in Jakarta contributed 45 cows for the sacrificial ritual.

Also joining the sacrificial ritual at the grand mosque were former president Soeharto’s eldest daughter Siti “Tutut” Hardiyanti Rukmana, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali and Jakarta deputy governor Prijanto.

Hundreds of people lined up at the doors leading to the mosque, expecting hand-outs following the sacrificial ritual.

The slaughtering of livestock, however, only started only after 4 p.m. prompting the crowd to wait longer before the meat distribution began.

Alms seekers had to wait even longer last year with the mosque management beginning the slaughtering of animals at 7 p.m. .

“We expect to complete the entire process, including packing the meat, by 4 a.m. on Monday. We will distribute by around 5 a.m.,” said Istiqlal Mosque Management Board secretary Subandi on Sunday.

Istiqlal management expected to distribute 10,000 kilograms of meat to 10,000 poor families in the capital starting early Monday morning.

For this year’s Idul Adha, the mosque management saw a 100-percent increase in the number of coupons distributed to poor families for collecting meat.

Istiqlal management said it had set up tents with 500 chairs to host alms seekers.

Subandi said that more than 100 security personnel would be deployed to maintain order during the distribution of meat.

Sunday’s Idul Adha, however, was not without incident.

In East Jakarta, a butcher was wounded by his own knife when animals he was handling went berserk.

Lihan, a 55-year-old man butcher from Kampung Curug, Duren Sawit in East Jakarta, suffered a cut on his waist after a cow he handled was trying to escape.

He was rushed to Harum Hospital in Kalimalang, East Jakarta, before being transferred to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Central Jakarta.

A 67-year-old woman was killed on Jl. Dewi Sartika when she was hit by a speeding motorbike while she was crossing the street to join a meat distribution procedure at a nearby building on Sunday morning.

City Traffic Police law enforcement division head Adj. Sr. Comr. Sudarmanto said the motorbike was driven by a police officer identified as Second Brig. Giri.

Idul Adha, which fell on Nov. 6 this year, is observed to honor the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail on the order of God, who, according to Islamic tradition, eventually provided a lamb in the boy’s place.

Muslims who can afford to buy sacrificial livestock are obliged to do so and give away the meat to the less fortunate.

According to Jakarta Maritime and Agriculture Agency data, around 62,801 sacrificial animals had been brought to Jakarta, comprising 10,796 cows, 964 buffaloes, 47,618 goats and 3,450 sheep. (swd)