H

undreds of Muslim residents from all walks of life gathered one recent morning at the Barito intersection, located at the border of Gorontalo city and Bone Bolango regency, Gorontalo.

Some of them had just completed subuh (morning) prayer and were still wearing sarongs and mukena (women'€™s prayer robe) as they found places to sit and listen to a sermon delivered by a preacher, who stood near a border monument at the corner of the intersection.

Local youth figure Yusdin Danial, however, said that such a friendly atmosphere used to be a rare sight at the Barito intersection, before the launching of the annual street sermon events 17 years ago.

From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, the Barito intersection, according to Yusdin, was famous among local teenagers as the scene of street brawls, which were usually triggered by silly matters such as fighting over a girlfriend. Such clashes even broke out during the Ramadhan fasting month.

'€œMost of those who were involved in street brawls hailed from outside the two villages located closest to the intersection. They would agree to meet at the junction, which was then still deserted, to fight. The problem continued for years,'€ Yusdin told The Jakarta Post recently.

Concerned about the situation, one Ramadhan night in 1998, a group of young people and mosque caretakers from South Bulango, Bone Bolango regency, and East Bulotada'€™a, Gorontalo city, held a meeting to find a solution to put an end to the street brawls. They came up with an idea to hold street
sermons.

The concept of the event was simple. The next day residents gathered at the intersection after subuh prayer to listen to a sermon delivered by a preacher. The monument on the corner of the junction served as the stage for the preacher.

After 17 years, the intersection, earlier infamous as a venue of hostility, has now turned into a meeting point for silaturahmi (friendly gathering).

The street sermons, according to Yusdin, have also attracted residents from neighboring areas. Some of them even chartered public minivans to visit the venue.

He said, however, the number of street sermons scheduled for Ramadhan would entirely depend on the ability of local residents to invite and pay guest preachers.

'€œThe honorarium for preachers is provided by local residents. A week before Ramadhan, residents who are willing to book preachers and provide their honorarium can sign up with the organizing commitee,'€ said Yusdin, adding that he was expecting to see this year'€™s street sermon events last until the second week of Ramadhan.

This year'€™s Ramadhan started on June 18 and is expected to last until July 16.

Since the street sermons are held outdoors, event organizers have to be ready for potential disruptions, including rain and technical glitches.

Local community leader Ka Ita Nyonyo said a few years ago heavy rain forced a preacher to cut short his sermon. However, at the request of listeners, the preacher continued his sermon on the terrace of a resident'€™s house, while the audience spread themselves around to seek shelter.

Meanwhile, another preacher suddenly went off the stage to adjust the volume of the speakers because he was not satisfied with the quality of the sound system.

'€œThank God, from the donations from listeners, we are now able to provide our preachers with a much better sound system,'€ Nyonyo said.