Indonesian Embassy: Eid al-Fitr in Helsinki Strengthens Indonesian Diaspora Unity

IMMI Chairman Muhammad Wildan Zulfikar stated that during this year’s Ramadan, his organisation and the Indonesian Embassy had organised two iftar gatherings, a Quranic Education Park, and a Ramadan Festival. The Eid al-Fitr celebration at the Indonesian Embassy in Helsinki was warmly received by the local community and Indonesian diaspora, even though the temperature in Finland’s capital remained around 5 degrees Celsius. Approximately 256 people attended the Eid al-Fitr event at the embassy building in Helsinki. Attendees came not only from Helsinki but also from other cities in Finland, including Turku, Tampere, and Oulu, which is 600 kilometres from Helsinki. The embassy also served traditional Eid dishes to soothe the longing for the festive atmosphere back in Indonesia. Musa Alaydrus, who served as the khatib for the Eid al-Fitr prayer at the Indonesian Embassy in Helsinki, said that the state of fitrah achieved is the result of cleansing the heart and self after a full month tempered during the holy month of Ramadan. The materials science expert working in Helsinki also encouraged the community and diaspora to utilise that condition as an important provision for future activities.