JAKARTA LIFE'S STYLE

Millions of Indonesians took part in peaceful morning prayers on Friday before celebrating the end of the month-long Ramadan fasting month. With family and relatives, they packed mosques across Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation, to mark the Idul Fitri holiday.

In Jakarta, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono attended an Idul Fitri prayer service at the capital’s Istiqlal grand mosque. Besides the president and the vice president, other state officials were also present the the event where the Idul Fitri sermon was delivered by Sunan Ampel State Islamic Institute (IAIN) Rector Prof Nur Syam.

Leading the service was the iman of Istiqlal Mosque, Hasanuddin Sinaga, who is concurrently a lecturer of Syarif Hidahyatullah State Islamic University (UIN Syarif Hidayatullah). President Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono arrived at the mosque yard at 6.50 am, or five minutes before the start of Idul Fitri prayer.

In a tight security, thousands of other congregations from every corner of the city also packed the largest mosque in Southeast Asia that can accommodate 120,000 people. Earlier on Thursday night the head of state was also present at the same mosque to attend a national event in which the participants made repletions of ""Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) to usher the Idul Fitri festivity.

After Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali opened the event, marking the eve of Idul Fitri festivity or "Takbiran", President Yudhoyono truck a 1-meter in diameter drum for 15 seconds before conveying Idul Fitri greetings to his entire countrymen.

"On behalf of the state, the government and myself, with the spirit of Ramadhan victory, and the spirit of unity and brotherhood, let me send you Idul Fitri 1431 Hijriah greetings," the president said.

After attending Idul Fitri prayers on Friday, President Yudhoyono would hold an open house with state officials, and in the afternoon from 3 to 5.30 the head of state and his family would also hold another open house for the public. Unlike in previous years, the president this year would not hold an open house on the second day of Idul Fitri, Saturday, at his private Cikean Indah house in Bogor, but instead have a gathering with his mother Siti Habibah and the family.

The streets of Jakarta, Bekasi, Tangerang, and Bogor after the prayers were filled with people visiting friends and relatives for the Idul Fitri or Lebaran tradition of seeking forgiveness for past mistakes. Lebaran is the time when Muslims visit their relatives and friends to ask for forgiveness for any wrongs they have committed in the past year.

Greeting and embracing each other, they express this wish in the phrase, "Mohon Maaf Lahir Batin" or "Minal Aidin Wal Fa Idzin" which means "the bottom of my heart and soul, I ask forgiveness for my wrongdoings."

Bringing flowers, the people also packed cemeteries to offer prayers for their dead relatives after the month-long ban on visiting graves during holy month of Ramadan. In Manado, the predominantly Christian city in North Sulawesi, thousands of Muslims made devotional visits to the graves of their relatives after performing Idul Fitri prayers.

"The devotional visit to the graves is not a tradition but a must for Muslims to offer prayers for their dead family members and relatives," North Sulawesi Muslim figure Gaib Al Amien said in Manado on Friday. While in Pandeglang, Banten province, thousands of Muslims also packed the cemeteries of noted and respected clerics for their meritorious acts in spreading Islam in the province.

The most visited tombs in Padeglang were that of Syeck Abdul Jabbar, Syech Jumanten Jagaraksa Negara, Syecj Jasraya (Pagadungan), KH Mahfud (Pasirandu), and Syech Mas Abu (Sukarahe). Meanwhile, Justice and Human Rights Ministry spokesman Rachmat Prio Sutardjo st Karawang Class IIA correctional institution in West Java said 42,823 prisoners this year had their sentences cut to mark the day, with 1,415 walking free.

"Of the total of 42,823 prisoners across the country, 1,415 are walking free," Rachmat said, adding that there were a total of 82,123 prisoners and 49,811 detainees in Indonesia. He said that of the 82,123 prisoners, 42,823 got special remission in Idul Fitri this year.

In Cilacap, Central Java, it was also reported on Friday that 6 terrorism-related prisoners at a number of correctional institutions on Nusakambangan island got special remission. Kembang Kuning correctional institution spokesman Herry Yunianto said in Cilacap that two of six prisoners in terrorism cases were Aris Widodo and Sikas.

In the predominantly Christian eastern Indonesian city of Ambon in Maluku, thousands of Muslims conducted Idul Fitri prayers at Alfatah grand mosque, and open fields under tight security but the prayers also proceeded peacefully. A number of Maluku provincial and Ambon city officials among others Vice Governor Said Assagaff, Maluku Police Chief Brig Gen Totoy Herawan Indra, Pattimura Military Commander Maj Gen Hatta Syafruddin, and Ambon Mayor Olivia Latuconsina also attended the prayer service.

Idul Fitri prayers also proceeded peacefully at eight locations in Kupang, the main city of predominantly Christian East Nusa Tenggara province.
Strongly held traditions to visit family at this time of Idul Fitri festivity necessitate the exodus of millions of people from Jakarta alone, followed by additional millions from other urban centers to rural villages and hometowns during the Lebaran holidays.

The hardships and inconveniences endured by the travelers in overcrowded buses, trains, and cars, even by motorbikes is unbelievable, yet they feel that this is a small price to pay to spend the holidays with their family, relatives, and friends at home.(Antara)

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