Fasting month begins on Monday<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta\/Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
The government has announced that the Ramadhan fasting month will
\nstart on Monday.<\/p>\n
"After checking the moon and calculating the days, we announce
\nthat Ramadhan begins on Monday. We hope that the month will be
\nobserved in peace," Minister of Religious Affairs Said Aquil al-
\nMunawar said here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The notice came as people around the country prepare for the
\nholy month.<\/p>\n
The two largest Muslim-based organizations, the Nahdlatul
\nUlama and Muhammadiyah, often set different dates for the start
\nof Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah earlier announced that the fasting month would
\nbegin on Oct. 27, based on a calculation of days, while the NU
\nusually announces Ramadhan only after sighting the new moon.<\/p>\n
The minister also said there was a possibility that the
\nfasting month would last for only 29 days, not the usual 30 days.<\/p>\n
"However, we will find out about it later when we decide the
\ndate of Idul Fitri," he said, referring to the end of Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
The announcement was made following a meeting attended by
\nleaders from the NU, the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) and
\nother organizations, as well as representatives from Morocco,
\nMalaysia and Egypt.<\/p>\n
The meeting also concluded that lunar and solar eclipses were
\npossible during this fasting month judging from the position of
\nthe moon and the sun, Said said.<\/p>\n
In war-torn Aceh, locals sacrifice cows, a long-held tradition
\ncalled meaugang.<\/p>\n
"It is our tradition to sacrifice a cow two days before
\nRamadhan and gather with our family," one Acehnese was quoted by
\nAntara as saying.<\/p>\n
The predominantly Muslim province, nicknamed the Veranda of
\nMecca, has been under martial law since May 19. Aceh is the only
\nprovince that applies Islamic law.<\/p>\n
The government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have decided
\nthere will be no cease-fire during Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
This will be the first Ramadhan under martial law, which was
\nimposed to crush the separatist movement in the resource-rich
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
People, especially in Banda Aceh, swarmed traditional markets
\nto buy staple food and other necessities for the beginning of the
\nfasting month.<\/p>\n
The Acehnese also like to "purify" themselves in the sea or a
\nriver.<\/p>\n
To ensure security during the month, the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) established eight more security posts in Aceh Jaya regency,
\nwhich was once a GAM stronghold.<\/p>\n
Aceh martial administrator Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya said the
\nextra posts brought the total in the regency to 40.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere in the country, especially on Java, people visit
\nrelatives' graves prior to Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
On the eve of Ramadhan, people will conduct their first dusk
\nTarawih prayer in local mosques throughout the country.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fasting-month-begins-on-monday-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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