Hundreds of beggars crowd mosques

Hundreds of beggars crowd mosques

JAKARTA: During Idul Fitri celebrations over the past two
days, hundreds of beggars flocked to mosques across the city,
expecting alms from people who had just finished praying.

Most of them came to the big mosques, such as Istiqlal, Dewan
Dakwah, Cut Mutia and Sunda Kelapa in Central Jakarta, Al Azhar
in South Jakarta and At Tien (Taman Mini) in East Jakarta.

The beggars, from children to the elderly, also massed on the
roads surrounding the mosques, as witnessed at Al Azhar, where
they asked for alms from passersby and motorists.

Antara reported that when the people left the mosques, the
beggars were seen counting their alms and waiting for public
buses or pick-up cars to go beg elsewhere.

Many of them looked happy as they held banknotes of Rp 1,000
and Rp 5,000, which were rarely given to beggars.

At Istiqlal Mosque the beggars gathered at several spots along
the road near the mosque, which happens to be adjacent to the
Catholic Cathedral Church.

As the first day of Idul Fitri celebrations happened to be on
Sunday when Christians were worshiping, the beggars also flocked
around the cathedral.

The scene is a repeat of previous years' Idul Fitri
celebrations when people were generous in giving donations to the
poor.--JP