Idul Fitri harmony and togetherness

Mon, June 18, 2018 / 05:04 pm

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Residents in Tanjungsari, Windusari district in Magelang regency, Central Java, distribute alms on June 13, 2018, two days before Idul Fitri. Residents distribute alms several days before Idul Fitri to help recipients celebrate the holidays. JP/Aditya Sagita
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Children at Al Makmur Mosque in Kebonarum, Klaten, Central Java celebrate Idul Fitri eve with a lantern parade while chanting praises to God on June 14, 2018. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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A couple in Balerante, Kemalang, Klaten, Central Java ride a motorcycle to Al Qodar Mosque for prayers on June 15, 2018. The residents of Balerante live only 3.5 kilometers from the peak of Mount Merapi, an active volcano that has experienced several phreatic eruptions recently. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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Muslims find a place to pray in front of the Immanuel Protestant Church (GPIB) on June 15, 2018 in Malang, East Java. The church has always opened its doors to Muslims during Idul Fitri. JP/ Aman Rochman
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Royal soldiers at the Yogyakarta Sultanate pray on the yard of the kraton on June 15, 2018. JP/Aditya Sagita
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Residents of Balerante, Kemalang, Klaten regency in Central Java attend Friday prayers on June 15, 2018 in the front yard of Al Qodar Mosque. After praying, the villagers, who live on the foot of Mount Merapi, visit relatives' houses. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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Muslims gathering for Eid prayers at the Masjid Jamik Malang on Friday, June 15, 2018 are welcomed in the yard of the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart because the mosque could not accommodate them all. JP/Aman Rochman
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People race to get snacks from the gunungan (cone-shaped offering) during a procession of Grebeg 1 Syawal 1439, a tradition at the Gedhe Mosque in Kauman, Yogyakarta on June 15, 2018. The gunungan symbolizes alms given by the Sultan of Yogyakarta to residents. The kraton made seven gunungan for the residents. JP/Aditya Sagita
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Families visit the graves of their loved ones at Sirnaraga Public Cemetary in Bandung, West Java on June 15, 2018. Many Muslims visit the cemetery after attending Friday prayers. JP/Arya Dipa

Idul Fitri is the biggest annual celebration that drives the largest movement of people in Indonesia. Preceded by mudik, an exodus in the last week of Ramadhan, Idul Fitri prayers and sermons will have the largest number of attendees, much bigger than the weekly Friday prayers.

Masjid Jamik Malang was so full of worshippers that the Eid sermon had to be held in the yard of the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart (Gereja Hati Kudus Yesus) and in the city square.

According to church staff, helping out with Eid prayers was an annual tradition. To cater to it, the church’s morning mass was postponed from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Members of the church’s Young Catholic organization also distributed bottled water and paper to those who did not bring prayer rugs.

Moch Affandi, the mosque’s secretary, said it always coordinated with the church as well as the Protestant Church of Immanuel.

“The mosque has operated since 1903 and we never had any conflict with the churches,” he added.

One of the congregants praying in the church yard, Devi Amatanti, 34, said she was grateful that the church opened its doors to another faith.

“[When I arrived at the mosque] I did not find any space to pray. However, the church staff offered their yard to us. They even gave us free paper to use as replacements for prayer rugs. I’m happy to see tolerance and religious harmony in Malang,” she added.