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Muslims celebrate Idul Adha in Indonesia amid FMD, coronavirus threats
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A Muslim boy looks on during mass prayers session at the Great Mosque of Al Azhar to celebrate Idul Adha in Jakarta on July 10. (Reuters/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana)
T
he recent slight increase in COVID-19 infections and the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak among cattle – which has driven up prices of sacrificial livestock – did not spoil the Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice) festivities for hundreds of millions of Muslims who celebrated the holiday across Indonesia on Sunday.
For Hamza Aslanbas, 39, a British citizen who has been residing in South Tangerang, Banten, on the outskirts of Jakarta, for the past two years, it was the first time that he could celebrate Idul Adha at a nearby local mosque.
“This has been a really pleasant experience for me because I had been celebrating Idul Adha just at home with my wife for the past two years. The mosque was so crowded that people had to place their sajadah [prayer mat] on the streets,” he said on Sunday.
He also took part in the qurban, the animal sacrifice that is synonymous with Idul Adha, chipping in money to purchase a bull that was slaughtered at the mosque complex.
“The meat was then shared to the hundreds of people that were there. I felt happy knowing that I could help provide to those that are less fortunate,” he said.
Read also: ‘Time to give back’: Muslims participate in Idul Adha rituals despite pandemic
In Jakarta, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was among the thousands of Muslims who participated in Idul Adha prayers at Istiqlal Mosque on in Central Jakarta on Sunday. He was accompanied by First Lady Iriana and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.
