Indonesians celebrate Idul Adha under Spain's scorching sun

Indonesians celebrated Idul Adha 1447H organised by the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid on Wednesday under Spain’s scorching summer sun. This year, the Eid prayers and sermon were delivered by Nailul Fadli, an Indonesian student studying in Cordoba. The celebration also served as a gathering for around 100 Indonesian citizens, the diaspora, and friends of Indonesia in Spain, according to the embassy. Indonesian Ambassador to Spain Muhammad Najib urged Indonesian citizens in Spain to uphold the values of sacrifice taught during Eid al-Adha. Zarofi, a student from Darussalam Gontor University participating in an exchange programme in Spain, expressed emotion at celebrating Eid al-Adha abroad for the first time. He also shared his joy at reuniting with fellow Indonesians and enjoying Indonesian cuisine. The longing for Indonesia’s Eid al-Adha atmosphere was not only felt by Indonesian citizens but also by Carmen Ortega Lázaro, a 2024-2025 Darmasiswa scholarship alumna from Spain. Upon returning to Spain, Carmen actively participates in events organised by the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid. At this year’s Eid celebration, she was delighted to be part of the Indonesian community in Spain. ‘It feels like I have an Indonesian ID card,’ said Carmen. The Eid celebration also attracted foreign nationals in Spain, including Egypt’s Muhammad Ibrahim, who has lived in Madrid for five years and works as a software engineer at a multinational company. Ibrahim said he attended the embassy-organised Eid celebration after being invited by a colleague from Amazon. The festival also provided comfort for homesickness, offering traditional Indonesian dishes such as goat curry, chicken and goat satay, and traditional Indonesian snacks. Beyond fostering ties with the community, diaspora, and friends of Indonesia abroad, this year’s Eid celebration also served as a platform to promote Indonesian culture and cuisine in Spain.