Fasting month begins on Monday

Fasting month begins on Monday

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta/Banda Aceh

The government has announced that the Ramadhan fasting month will
start on Monday.

"After checking the moon and calculating the days, we announce
that Ramadhan begins on Monday. We hope that the month will be
observed in peace," Minister of Religious Affairs Said Aquil al-
Munawar said here on Saturday.

The notice came as people around the country prepare for the
holy month.

The two largest Muslim-based organizations, the Nahdlatul
Ulama and Muhammadiyah, often set different dates for the start
of Ramadhan.

Muhammadiyah earlier announced that the fasting month would
begin on Oct. 27, based on a calculation of days, while the NU
usually announces Ramadhan only after sighting the new moon.

The minister also said there was a possibility that the
fasting month would last for only 29 days, not the usual 30 days.

"However, we will find out about it later when we decide the
date of Idul Fitri," he said, referring to the end of Ramadhan.

The announcement was made following a meeting attended by
leaders from the NU, the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) and
other organizations, as well as representatives from Morocco,
Malaysia and Egypt.

The meeting also concluded that lunar and solar eclipses were
possible during this fasting month judging from the position of
the moon and the sun, Said said.

In war-torn Aceh, locals sacrifice cows, a long-held tradition
called meaugang.

"It is our tradition to sacrifice a cow two days before
Ramadhan and gather with our family," one Acehnese was quoted by
Antara as saying.

The predominantly Muslim province, nicknamed the Veranda of
Mecca, has been under martial law since May 19. Aceh is the only
province that applies Islamic law.

The government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have decided
there will be no cease-fire during Ramadhan.

This will be the first Ramadhan under martial law, which was
imposed to crush the separatist movement in the resource-rich
province.

People, especially in Banda Aceh, swarmed traditional markets
to buy staple food and other necessities for the beginning of the
fasting month.

The Acehnese also like to "purify" themselves in the sea or a
river.

To ensure security during the month, the Indonesian Military
(TNI) established eight more security posts in Aceh Jaya regency,
which was once a GAM stronghold.

Aceh martial administrator Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya said the
extra posts brought the total in the regency to 40.

Elsewhere in the country, especially on Java, people visit
relatives' graves prior to Ramadhan.

On the eve of Ramadhan, people will conduct their first dusk
Tarawih prayer in local mosques throughout the country.