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Collective Idul Fitri prayers held at Sunda Kelapa port
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Muslims perform Idul Fitri prayers at Sunda Kelapa port in North Jakarta on Wednesday. (JP/Ayomi Amindoni)
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s the sun rose on Wednesday, a flood of people appeared at the dock of Sunda Kelapa port in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, buying newspapers to lay on the ground and setting up Idul Fitri prayer mats in front of the moored boats.
The praying Muslims composed a beautiful sea of color as everyone took their position: The men gathered closest to the boats, while the women and children set up on the road behind.
Many of them were residents of Luar Batang village, people who were affected by a controversial revitalization project of the Luar Batang Mosque area, an icon of religious tourism. They had come to Sunda Kelapa by boat.
Sumiyati (43), a resident from Luar Batang, said she had to pay just Rp 3,000 (2 US cent) to sail from her village to Sunda Kelapa, which she considered better than having to travel to the port by motorbike.
"It's faster than riding a motorcycle, because we have to detour, she told The Jakarta Post.
She said she and her family often conducted the Eid prayers at Sunda Kelapa port, following the family tradition. Not only residents from nearby areas like Penjaringan and Pademangan joined the event, she continued, but many people from surrounding area also came to feel the unique experience of practicing morning prayers with the traditional Indonesian Phinisi boats in the background.
Dewi, 29, who chose to stay in Jakarta instead of going back to her hometown in Medan, North Sumatra, for this Eid holiday, added that it was the first time for her to experience Eid prayers at the port.
According to her, following the eviction of some residents from Luar Batang a couple of months ago, fewer people had gathered for the morning prayers in Sunda Kelapa port this year.
"Previously, there were approximately a thousand people doing Eid prayers, whether on Idul Fitri or Idul Adha. This year, it is likely that fewer people have come here," she said. (iik)
