Jakarta Government Holds Grand Haul for Betawi Clerics and Scholars at Monas
The Jakarta Provincial Government is holding a grand haul for Betawi ulama and habaib at the National Monument (Monas) plaza this Friday afternoon. The event forms part of the series of commemorations for the 499th anniversary of the city of Jakarta. Activities are centred at the Plaza Selatan Monas and are expected to be attended by approximately 20,000 worshippers from Jakarta and surrounding areas.
According to a statement from the Special Staff to the Governor of Jakarta for Social Communication, Chico Hakim, delivered on Thursday, the event serves as a profound tribute to the Betawi ulama and habaib who have made significant contributions to Islamic propagation, religious education, and socio-community development in Jakarta. Carrying the theme ‘Strengthening Religious Harmony Amidst Diversity, Jakarta’s Transformation Towards a Global City’, the event will be attended by prominent Jakarta-based religious figures, including Habib Syech bin Abdul Qadir Assegaf.
The series of haul activities began on Friday morning with a clean-up movement across 4,443 mosques and 6,705 prayer rooms throughout Jakarta. This was followed by pilgrimages to the graves of Betawi ulama and habaib. Governor Pramono Anung was scheduled to visit the grave of Guru Marzuqi in Cipinang Muara, East Jakarta, while Deputy Governor Rano Karno planned a pilgrimage to the grave of Guru Mughni in Kuningan, South Jakarta. Mayors, regents, sub-district heads, and village chiefs also conducted pilgrimages to designated clerics’ graves in their respective areas. A khotmul Qur’an (completion of Qur’an recitation) was subsequently held at the Fatahillah Mosque at City Hall, involving 60 students from Al-Hamidiyah and Asshiddiqiyah Islamic boarding schools. The main haul event is scheduled to take place at Plaza Selatan Monas, Central Jakarta, from 5 PM to 10 PM, with attendees encouraged to wear white attire.
In preparation for the event, the Jakarta Transportation Agency has implemented situational traffic diversions to ensure the event proceeds smoothly without disrupting public mobility. Traffic management will be applied on the northern side of Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, affecting routes from Tanah Abang and Kota towards Senen. Alternative routes have been provided for road users travelling between Harmoni, Bundaran HI, Tugu Tani, Gambir Station, Tanah Abang, and Kramat/Salemba.