Contests held for New Year fiesta

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Religious Affairs is organizing a series of events including seminars, bazaars and competitions to mark Islamic New Year, which falls on Thursday.

The "Muharram Week" festivities will be held at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque beginning today and will run until May 12, chief organizer Kholid Fadlullah said.

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

The events are being held in coordination with a number of Moslem organizations including the Istiqlal management board, the Indonesian Council of Mosques and the Association of Islamic Art and Culture.

The contests include public speeches in Arabic, Indonesian and English, poetry reading and Koranic recitations. The Jakarta Art Institute will perform a musical concert. (11)