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View all search resultsJokowi, Kalla recite Idul Fitri prayers at Istiqlal Grand Mosque
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Hundreds of thousands of people attend the Idul Fitri mass prayer at Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Jakarta on Sunday morning. In an unusual move, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo staying in Jakarta and joined them. (JP/Haeril Halim)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo recited Idul Fitri prayers for the first time at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Jakarta on Sunday. Previously, since becoming president two years ago, he has always celebrated Idul Fitri festivities outside of the capital.
The President and First Lady Iriana arrived at the mosque about 15 minutes before the imam started the prayers at 7 a.m.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla and wife Mufidah joined the presidential entourage at the mosque, which was fully packed with hundreds of thousands of people from across Jakarta.
Jokowi had introduced his own tradition of celebrating Idul Fitri outside the capital over the past two years, visiting Aceh during the 2015 festivities and Padang in West Sumatra in the following year. However, this year he took a different course and resumed the tradition of his predecessors.
After the prayer, President Jokowi and Iriana headed to the State Palace to attend a limited open house hosted by Kalla that started at 8.45 a.m. and was reserved for the President, his family and Cabinet members only.
Meanwhile, Jokowi was to host his own open house at the State Palace between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. open to all members of the public.
Open houses are common in the country during Idul Fitri, with many public officials and public figures throwing such gatherings for their relatives, colleagues and friends. (ipa)
