President Soeharto leads the first 'Takbir'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto led the first takbir (praise
\nto Allah), marking the end of Ramadhan and the coming of Idul
\nFitri celebrations, in a mass gathering at the National Monument
\n(Monas) park Saturday.<\/p>\n
The President chanted Allahu Akbar (God is Great) repeatedly
\nafter striking Indonesia's largest bedug (traditional drum) in a
\nrhythmical beat. The bedug was specially brought from an old
\nmosque in Bantul regency, Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Let's observe Idul Fitri by forgiving each other. Through
\nthis forum I ask to be forgiven (by all Indonesian people),\" the
\nPresident said.<\/p>\n
Vice President Try Sutrisno, Minister of Religious Affairs
\nTarmizi Taher, Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, chairman of
\nthe Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) Hasan Basri and Probo
\nSutedjo, the organizing committee chairman attended the grand
\nevent which cost Rp 1.6 billion (US$666,944).<\/p>\n
Zaenuddin MZ, the most popular Moslem preacher, dangdut singer
\nRhoma Irama plus composer and artist Emha Ainun Nadjib also took
\nto the stage.<\/p>\n
The first takbir was then continued by about 2,000 Moslem
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
The President officially started the event at 7.30 p.m. but
\nthousands began flocking to the area from about 3 p.m.<\/p>\n
People went to Monas in private cars, by public transport and
\nin open trucks.<\/p>\n
The event eventually caused traffic congestion in the Monas
\npark area.<\/p>\n
At 5:15 p.m., preacher Zaenuddin M.Z. and singer Rhoma Irama
\nstarted the ceremony with their sermons, congratulating Moslems
\nfor their success in fasting which they called \"the battle
\nagainst evil\".<\/p>\n
The audience was then absorbed in a prayer led by MUI deputy
\nchairman Ali Yafie.<\/p>\n
The mood of brotherhood among them was strong when they broke
\ntheir last day of fasting together after saying the Magrib (dusk)
\nprayer.<\/p>\n
The light was slowly diminishing and the shape a giant Mosque
\nwith nine domes appeared.<\/p>\n
The domes depicted nine Wali, charismatic religious teachers
\nwho disseminated Islam in Java from the 14th to the 16th century.
\nThe stage was surrounded by 27 bedug depicting Indonesia's 27
\nprovinces.<\/p>\n
Noted artist and poet Emha Ainun Nadjib heightened the
\nreligious atmosphere with his poetry glorifying Allah.<\/p>\n
Shortly after the President and Vice President left, Governor
\nSurjadi pushed a siren marking the beginning of the 25-minute
\ndisplay of fireworks and the start of a procession of 520 trucks
\nfull of passengers.<\/p>\n
The number of trucks and vehicles involved in the procession
\ngrew as motorists took part.<\/p>\n
Idul Fitri eve was also hectic for the zakat fitrah (alms)
\ncommittees because, according to Islamic teaching, Moslems are
\nobliged to pay alms after completing their fast.<\/p>\n
Alms were given in the form of 2.5 kilos of good rice or the
\namount of money the rice costs, for each individual.<\/p>\n
Amananto and H.M. Anwar, chairman of the alms collection
\ncommittee at the Sunda Kelapa and Al Azhar mosques, said people
\npreferred to pay in cash.<\/p>\n
\"Moslems consider tonight as an ideal time to pay their alms.
\nSo, they come here and we can't refuse them. We should distribute
\nthe alms to the poor, orphans and those eligible before
\nmidnight,\" Amananto said Saturday.<\/p>\n
About 40 members of Pondok Indah mosque went to nearby
\nkampongs to get first hand information on who would receive the
\nalms.<\/p>\n
The City deployed 13,592 police, military officers and
\nofficers from the City Land Transportation Control Agency, to
\nsecure Idul Fitri festivities. The operation began Jan. 28, and
\nwill end Feb. 29.<\/p>\n
Accidents marred the event and the Cipto Mangunkusumo Public
\nHospital recorded one death and 17 injured people on Idul Fitri
\neve.<\/p>\n
Seven surgeons, six interns and 23 nurses were on night duty
\nat the hospital on Idul Fitri eve. (ste\/11\/anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-soeharto-leads-the-first-takbir-1447893297",
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