Exiled Indonesians celebrate Idul Fitri holiday

Exiled Indonesians celebrate Idul Fitri holiday

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians in New York City and surrounding
areas said their Idul Fitri prayer in the only Indonesian mosque
in the United States, where khotib (preacher) M. Achmad Padang
told leaders to emulate King Solomon who listened even to the
aspiration of mere ants.

The preacher said leaders must not be arrogant, but to serve
the people. Quoting a Koranic verse, Achmad said: "Allah will
grant power to those whom He wills and revoke it from any that He
wills."

"Prophet Solomon wielded such a great power, but he listened
to the aspiration of ants," he said.

After the religious service, Makarim held an open house and
received well-wishers at the Wisma Duta guest house.

The Antara news agency said the gathering was also attended by
Indonesian permanent representative to the United Nations,
Makarim Wibisono, and consul in New York Rachmat Ranudiwidjaja.

Overseas Indonesians celebrated Idul Fitri Muslim holiday in
various parts of the world in ways which were similar to families
back home, namely gathering to say their prayers and follow it
with halal bihalal or wishing each other well and apologizing for
past mistakes.

In India, about 200 people -- mostly students -- said the Idul
Fitri prayer at the Indonesian embassy in New Delhi. Also joining
the prayer were some of the 1.5 million Indian Muslims in the
city.

Antara said merriment, however, centered at Jama Mosque at the
Nizamuddin area which is Muslim-predominated. Around 200,000
Muslims said their prayer there.

In Egypt, about 300 Indonesians gathered at the Indonesian
embassy in Cairo. Some of those in attendants were students who
had to be picked up by embassy staff from their dormitories and
residences because public transportation was not operating on
holidays.

Last year, there were 1,500 Indonesians celebrating Idul Fitri
at the embassy.

In The Hague, thousands of Indonesians flocked to mosques to
say their Idul Fitri prayer. Indonesian ambassador Abdul Irsan
joined the event and shared the merriment at the Al Hikmah
mosque.

In Australia, Ambassador Wiryono Sastrohandoyo addressed about
2,000 Muslims gathering at the only mosque in Canberra, according
to Antara. (01)