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Ramadan starts on Saturday, govt declares
Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar announced the decision after receiving confirmation of the sighting of the moon in Aceh.
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Students wearing traditional attire hold banners on Feb. 28, 2025, that read “Welcome Ramadan” during a Dugderan cultural parade to welcome the Islamic fasting month at the Semarang town hall square in Central Java. (Antara/Makna Zaezar)
The government has announced that Ramadan will start on Saturday following an isbat (confirmation) meeting with several Islamic organizations and other parties in Jakarta on Friday.
The Religious Affairs Ministry held the meeting, which was led by minister Nasaruddin Umar, at its office in Jakarta. In attendance were representatives of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI); the country’s two largest Islamic groups, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah; and foreign envoys.
Nasaruddin announced the decision at around 7:40 p.m., later than the scheduled time of 7:05 p.m., after waiting for a confirmation from observers in Aceh.
“We needed to wait for confirmation from the westernmost province because the moon could not be objectively observed tonight from most parts of the country. Therefore, we needed to hear from Aceh as it was the only region that fulfills the requirements for the moon sighting,” the minister said at a press briefing on Friday evening.
Read also: Banda Aceh 'sharia police' to tighten patrols for Ramadan
Teams from the ministry, its regional offices and other relevant agencies monitored for the hilal (first crescent) and relayed their observations to the isbat in Jakarta.
Muhammadiyah had announced in mid-January that Ramadan would start on Saturday after determining the start of the fasting month using hisab (mathematical calculations).
Ramadan is expected to last 30 days, followed by the Idul Fitri holiday, which is expected to fall on March 31, pending another moon sighting to determine the first day of the month of Syawal, which marks the holiday’s arrival.
In a separate press briefing at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in East Jakarta on Friday afternoon, President Prabowo Subianto wished Muslims across the country a calm Ramadan. (tha/kuk)
