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Lebaran starts early for Muslim minorities
As in previous years, the government allows Muslim minority groups to celebrate Idul Fitri earlier or later than the official announcement.
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Joyful day: Naqsabandiyah followers shake hand with the leader of Idul Fitri prayers at Baitul Makmur Mosque, Pauh, Padang, West Sumatra , on June 13. (Antara/Iggoy el Fitra)
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s the majority of Muslims across the country await Idul Fitri, small Muslim communities across the archipelago celebrated the Islamic holy day on Monday.
A small Muslim community in Wates village, Tulungagung regency, East Java, went ahead with celebrations on Monday.
Around 100 members of the tightly knit religious community observed Idul Fitri prayers at a village mosque. Members of the community wore typical Muslim attire, not unlike most other Muslims who are affiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama.
However, the community did not allow the press to take pictures of their Idul Fitri celebration, also called Lebaran, at the mosque.
Huda, a 40-year-old staffer of the mosque in neighboring Paser village, said the Idul Fitri prayers observed by the community were not different from the prayers typically observed by other Muslims on the Islamic holy day.
“They observe their daily prayers in the same way [as other Muslims],” Huda said, adding that he could not tell whether the group was affiliated with a local Sufi movement.
He said the small community was well-known among residents for always observing Ramadan and Idul Fitri during times that differed from the dates set by the government.
