Mosques opt to give up 'takbiran' parades

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakartans will hopefully experience less traffic congestion and fewer accidents this year on the eve of Idul Fitri as many Muslims have decided to stay in their mosques instead of parading around the city's main streets in convoy chanting Allahu Akbar (God is great) in a ritual known as takbiran.

"The parades are a thing of the past. We prefer to hold takbiran inside the mosque and later on traverse the city on motorcycles to distribute money to the needy," said Ade Sulaiman, a member of the Al-Magfiroh mosque council in Grogol Utara, South Jakarta.

Ade told The Jakarta Post on Monday that they had collected Rp 600,000 (US$60) from congregation members for their activities.

"We hope we can collect over Rp 1 million on the eve of Idul Fitri. We will give Rp 20,000 to each poor person we meet. We believe the money will help them celebrate Idul Fitri."

The mosque, he said, had received an announcement from the South Jakarta mayor and the subdistrict head stating that takbiran parades were forbidden.

The Al Falah mosque in Gelora subdistrict, Central Jakarta, has also decided not to hold a parade this year.

"We are aware that many people are suffering this Ramadhan because of the fuel price hikes. We want the celebration of Idul Fitri this year to be as modest as possible," said Safrudin, a member of the Al Falah mosque council.

Idul Fitri ends the fasting month and falls on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 this year. Some 2.5 million Jakartans are expected to leave for their hometowns to celebrate the festivities there.

Previously, Jakarta Muslims always celebrated the eve of Idul Fitri with takbiran parades. Dozens, or even hundreds, of cars and motorcycles from each area or mosque would travel in convoy around the heart of Jakarta, including the National Monument (Monas) park, Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman, all in Central Jakarta, and Ancol in North Jakarta.

Police have complained that many parade participants habitually disobeyed road traffic regulations and caused heavy traffic jams in many parts of the city.

Police have also warned of an increased danger of accidents on the eve of Idul Fitri.

"We would call on residents to celebrate takbiran night in their own neighborhoods to prevent heavy congestion, crime and accidents. We will redirect them back if we find a parade trying to leave the neighborhood," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. I Ketut Untung Yoga Ana told the Post.

Accepting the new restrictions, several other mosques in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, vowed to hold takbiran inside their own subdistricts or housing complexes.

"We plan to conduct takbiran inside our community unit after we finish reciting at the mosque. I think other mosques in Pasar Minggu will do the same," said Tarmudin, a member of the Nurul Hidayatussolihin mosque council in Pasar Minggu.