The holy month of Ramadhan came to a close for most Muslims in Indonesia on Monday. As usual, the event offered familiar scenes that remained heartwarming and inspiring. As usual, for example, the pious bore torches on streets throughout the archipelago on Takbiran, the final night of Ramadhan — while children enthusiastically pounded huge drums to mark the start of Idul Fitri, or the feast that ends the fasting month.

People also came together to usher in Idul Fitri with communal prayers, culminating in chants of Allahu Akbar (God is great). In Jakarta, the spirit of Lebaran was evident in the tens of thousands clad in white who descended on the Istiqal Mosque in Jakarta — as well as those who observed the holy day more humbly, such as the families of the sailors and fishermen of Penjaringan and Sunda Kelapa in North Jakarta, who came together near their huge wooden phinisi ships.

And, as Lebaran got into full swing, families piled into cars and mikrolet minivans to pay courtesy visits, temporarily clogging otherwise empty streets, as neighbors — smiling and grinning — greeted each other with the traditional “Mohon maaf lahir dan batin” – a request that all sins be forgiven.

Culmination: Children follow people bearing torches in a procession to mark Takbiran, or the eve of Idul Fitri and the end of Ramadhan, in Matraman, East Jakarta, on Sunday night. (JP/AWO)

On the move: Travelers observe prayers to mark the start of Lebaran on the platform at Cakung Station in East Jakarta on Monday. (JP/AWO)

Different drum: Members of Jamaah Tarekat Syattariyah perform prayers to mark the arrival Idul Fitri at the grave of Sheik Burhanuddin in Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra, on Tuesday. The congregation fixes the date for Idul Fitri based on their first sighting of the Moon with the naked eye, which was one day later than the date fixed by the government this year. (Antara/Iggoy el Fitra)

The holy month of Ramadhan came to a close for most Muslims in Indonesia on Monday. As usual, the event offered familiar scenes that remained heartwarming and inspiring. As usual, for example, the pious bore torches on streets throughout the archipelago on Takbiran, the final night of Ramadhan '€” while children enthusiastically pounded huge drums to mark the start of Idul Fitri, or the feast that ends the fasting month.

People also came together to usher in Idul Fitri with communal prayers, culminating in chants of Allahu Akbar (God is great). In Jakarta, the spirit of Lebaran was evident in the tens of thousands clad in white who descended on the Istiqal Mosque in Jakarta '€” as well as those who observed the holy day more humbly, such as the families of the sailors and fishermen of Penjaringan and Sunda Kelapa in North Jakarta, who came together near their huge wooden phinisi ships.

And, as Lebaran got into full swing, families piled into cars and mikrolet minivans to pay courtesy visits, temporarily clogging otherwise empty streets, as neighbors '€” smiling and grinning '€” greeted each other with the traditional '€œMohon maaf lahir dan batin'€ '€“ a request that all sins be forgiven.

Text by JP/Christian Razukas

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