Weekly gallery: Preparing for unprecedented celebrations

Fri, May 22, 2020 / 10:17 pm

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A man pays alms at a drive-thru center at Nurul Hidayah Mosque in Jakarta on May 14. Muslims, if capable, need to pay alms ahead of Idul Fitri. JP/Seto Wardhana.
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A visitor looks at a merchant information board on May 15 at East Jakarta’s Jatinegara Market, which is temporarily closed due to the city’s large-scale social restrictions. The board contains the phone numbers of market merchants who have continued to offer their services. JP/Dhoni Setiawan
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Hundreds of people get in line to buy rice and chicken for Rp 3,000 (US 20 cents) per package in Bandung, West Java, on May 15. They are required to hold a stick to maintain a safe distance. JP/Arya Dipa
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Two men play giant chess in front of a house in Pondok Betung in South Tangerang, Banten, on May 15 while waiting to break the fast. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
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A female elephant calf lays among adult elephants at Gembira Loka Zoo in Yogyakarta on May 16. JP/Tarko Sudiarno
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People swarm clothing stores at Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta on May 18. Most of the visitors broke the social distancing policy to continue the tradition of buying new clothes for Idul Fitri. JP/Dhoni Setiawan
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A man closes his eyes as an officer takes his blood sample at the Malang City Health Office in East Java on May 18. The city administration aims to provide rapid tests for those who face a high risk of contracting COVID-19. JP/Nedi Putra A.W.
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A Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officer takes a picture of a motorist who does pushups as a punishment for violating the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in Depok, West Java, on May 19. Punishments for offenders of the PSBB range from pushups and singing the national anthem to sweeping the streets. JP/P.J. Leo
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Two consumers (left) complete their transactions at a gold shop in Singosari Market in Malang, East Java, on May 19. The store recorded a surge of gold jewelry sales ahead of Idul Fitri, rising from 10 to 25 transactions per day. JP/Aman Rochman

Curated by Ricky Yudhistira

Idul Fitri is approaching and Muslims in Indonesia are torn between keeping some traditions alive or maintaining physical distancing in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many took the risk of contracting the virus by shopping for new clothes for the holiday at the Tanah Abang shopping area in Central Jakarta. A gold store in Malang, East Java, even recorded a jump in sales on the last days of Ramadan.

Many Muslims, wanting to keep a safe distance, have paid their compulsory alms through online transactions or drive-thru alms centers.

Idul Fitri is supposed to be a time to gather with family. But this is not the case this year for many health workers, public order officers and other essential workers.

As this photo story shows, they are still working hard to detect more COVID-19 cases, while making sure that everyone adheres to social distancing rules. (yps)