Muslims across the country welcomed the beginning of Ramadhan with their unique traditions, such as stone roasting in Papua and dugderan in Central Java.

The Muslim community from Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, residing in Jayapura city, Papua, on Wednesday carried out the bakar batu (stone roasting) ritual to greet the fasting month.

The bakar batu event took place in Meteo Angkasa village, North Jayapura district, at the Firdaus Asso mosque.

Four adults arranged the rocks over a wooden structure, covered it with leaves and then set it on fire.

A hole was dug next to the pile of rocks, in which a variety of food would be cooked, such as vegetables, yams, corn, bananas and chicken.

When the rocks had been heated, the foodstuffs were arranged inside the hole, which was lined with banana leaves. There were alternating layers of food and hot rocks, which would cook the food,

After all the food had been arranged, the pile of food was tightly packed together and covered by another layer of hot rocks. After a few hours, the package of rocks and food was unbundled and the food was ready to eat.

The community leader, Hadiman Asso, 37, said this rock oven tradition was carried out every time an important community activity took place, such as a wedding.

'€œMuslims from Wamena carry out the tradition during religious events,'€ said Hadiman.

He said the Wamena Muslim community in Jayapura carried out the tradition ahead of Ramadhan to create an opportunity for community members to apologize to each other before beginning the fast.

'€œThe apologizing is usually carried out during Idul Fitri, but we believe it is better to do it before beginning the fast. Neighbors who have committed mistakes can forgive each other. That way we can fast with a clean heart as we'€™ve forgiven each other,'€ said Hadiman.

Meanwhile, thousands of residents in Semarang, Central Java, swarmed Jl. Pemuda, stretching from the city hall to the Kauman Grand Mosque near Johar market, which was earlier razed by fire, on Tuesday.

They waited for the dugderan parade, a special Semarang tradition to greet Ramadhan.

Semarang Mayor Hendrar Prihadi and wife Krisseptiana rode in a horse carriage and wore special Semarang attire.

The dugderan tradition purportedly began in 1881, when Semarang was led by Purbaningrat.

The arrival of the Semarang regent was greeted by troops carrying the statue of the mythological animal warak. This creature has the head of a dragon, the neck of a camel and the body of a goat and is covered in scales. The warak is a symbolic embodiment of anger and worldly desires.

At the Kauman mosque, Hendrar received the Suhuf Halaqoh manuscript from clerics, who had held a meeting to decide when Ramadhan would start.

At the mosque, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo read the Suhuf Halaqoh in Javanese, which was followed by hitting the bedug (mosque drum) repeatedly. This created a dug, dug, dug sound, which was greeted by the sound of cannons, der, der, der, thus creating something that sounded like dugderan.

'€œThe tradition must be preserved and developed so the younger generation can still understand dugderan. For tourists, the event is also interesting. However, this time the dugderan was not as cheerful as last year. This time it was carried out modestly as our brothers and sisters are still in a state of sadness due to the Johar market blaze. We are still sorrowful,'€ said Ganjar.

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