Celebrating Idul Fitri the Indonesian way

Fri, June 30, 2017 / 06:09 pm

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Children carry bamboo torches aloft during takbiran, chanting “Allah is great”, on the eve of Idul Fitri at the Kasunanan palace complex in Surakarta, Central Java, on Saturday, June 24, 2017. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi
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Muslim teenagers recite the name of Allah while riding atop a bus in a convoy around Jakarta for takbiran on Saturday, June 24, 2017. JP/Ibrahim Irsyad
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A boy blows out a torch at the close of a takbir torch parade at Makmur Mosque in Basin, Kebonarum, Klaten, Central Java, on Saturday, June 24, 2017. JP/ Magnus Hendratmo
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Five women are photographed in a booth built by mosque youths in Payaman Secang, Magelang, Central Java, on Saturday night, June 24, 2017. The eve’s festivities included fireworks and a torch parade. JP/Syamsul Huda M.Suhari
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Muslim women walk to Sudirman mosque as an officer guides the way in Denpasar, Bali, to observe the Idul Fitri mass prayer on Sunday, June 25, 2017. JP/ Zul Trio Anggono
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Residents of Nglinggi, Kebonarum, Klaten, Central Java, are reflected in a shallow pool as they prepare for the Ied prayer in a field on Sunday, June 25, 2017. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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Muslim women perform the Idul Fitri mass prayer in the courtyard of Sudirman mosque in Denpasar, Bali, on Sunday, June 25, 2017. JP/ Zul Trio Anggono
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Muslims perform the Idul Fitri mass prayer on the grounds of Kayutangan Hati Kudus Yesus church in Malang, East Java, on Sunday, June 25, 2017. JP/ Aman Rochman
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Muslims perform the Idul Fitri mass prayer at the Bandung Grand Mosque in West Java on Sunday, June 25, 2017. JP/Arya Dipa
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Thousands of Muslims observe the Ied prayer at the Central Java Grand Mosque in Semarang on Sunday, June 25, 2017. The Grand Mosque’s architecture is similar to that of the famed Nabawi Mosque – known as the Prophet’s Mosque – in Medina, Saudi Arabia. JP/Suherdjoko
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Colorful balloons for sale adorn the background in Payaman, Secang, Magelang, Central Java, as the Idul Fitri mass prayer is observed in a local field on Sunday, June 25, 2017. JP/Syamsul Huda M. Suhari
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Muslims greet each other in front of a Buddhist temple after observing the Idul Fitri prayer on Gg. Hj Ruhana, Lengkong Kecil, Bandung, on Sunday, June 25, 2017. The people here live among religious diversity, as the 200-meter alley is home to three different houses of worship. JP/Arya Dipa

Muslims around the world celebrate the Idul Fitri holidays to mark the end of the Ramadhan fasting month. In Indonesia, Muslims celebrate Idul Fitri in different ways that reflect the nation’s rich diversity.

Indonesians typically celebrate Idul Fitri in their hometowns, traveling long hours and roads to reach them. This year, almost 30 million Indonesian Muslims took the seasonal homebound journey, popularly known as mudik, taking planes, trains, automobiles, buses and even motorcycles.

In some areas, Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadhan with a torch parade in their kampongs or villages.

On the first day of Idul Fitri, Muslims perform the sacred Ied prayer at the nearest mosque or field before gathering at family homes to ask for forgiveness and to share in the holiday feast. The second day is usually reserved for visiting friends and neighbors.

This year’s celebration was slightly different from last year’s, as the first day of Idul Fitri fell on a Sunday. Several churches rescheduled their Mass to the afternoon and opened their churchyards to be used as parking lots. The gesture shows that religious tolerance does exist here, upholding the national motto of “Unity in Diversity”. [yan]

also read:http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/06/25/in-malang- church-allows- muslims- to-use- lawn-for- idul-fitri- prayers.html