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Followers of Muslim sect in C. Java celebrate Idul Adha on Tuesday
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Hundreds of Muslims gather at Roosniah al-Ahmad Mosque in Bogor, West Java, to pray on Idul Adha, an Islamic holiday honoring the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his own son. (JP/Dandy Koswaraputra)
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undreds of Muslim of the Aboge sect in Cikakak village of Banyumas regency, Central Java, celebrated Idul Adha on Tuesday, two days later than Muslims across the world generally observe the Islamic Day of Sacrifice.
The Aboge followers gathered on Tuesday morning to hold Idul Adha prayers in the village’s Saka Tunggal Mosque, after which they ate together in the mosque compound and proceeded to cut the meet of the qurban (sacrificial cattle).
Saka Tunggal Mosque imam and local figure Kiai Sulam said they celebrated the Islamic holiday on a different day because they determined the date based on the Javanese calendar.
“The principles and requirement are Insya Allah [God willing] similar to those of the other [Muslims],” Sulam said, “Only the date is different.”
Sulam said difference in the calendar often caused big celebrations to be held on different dates compared to other Muslims. However, it was not uncommon for celebrations to be held concurrently.
Almost 80 percent of the villagers were Aboge followers, he added.
The difference of important Islamic dates had never been a problem for the villagers, Sulam said, and in accordance with individual faith, some followed the national calendar and others followed the dates set by their local ancestors. (tru/afr)
