Palace Issues Circular Directive Prohibiting Ministers from Hosting Extravagant Eid Open Houses
The Presidential Palace has issued a circular directive (SE) instructing all ministries and government agencies to refrain from hosting extravagant open house celebrations and Eid gatherings (halal bihalal) for Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah (2026).
The directive was confirmed directly by the Minister of State Secretariat (Mensesneg), Prasetyo Hadi, and was issued to follow up on directions given by President Prabowo Subianto during a full cabinet meeting on Friday, 13 March 2026.
“In line with the president’s instructions, we have issued a circular directive to all ministers and agencies urging them not to be excessive in organising open house and Eid gatherings,” said Prasetyo to journalists on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
Prasetyo explained that the directive was issued because several disaster-affected regions remain in difficult conditions. The palace therefore urged that Eid gatherings not be conducted excessively.
“Because many of our fellow citizens are still in challenging circumstances, we are urging officials not to be excessive when organising open house or Eid gathering activities,” he stated.
President Prabowo had previously reminded all officials not to host overly lavish Eid open houses for Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah. The head of state requested that officials conduct Eid open houses in a simple manner.
“We should also set an example with our open house events—they should not be too extravagant,” said Prabowo at the Full Cabinet Meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday, 13 March 2026.
The former defence minister reminded officials that citizens in disaster-affected regions remain in need of assistance from natural disasters. For this reason, all officials are expected to demonstrate empathy.
“Our fellow citizens in disaster areas—we should set an example for the people,” he said.
However, Prabowo cautioned that activities should not be completely cancelled, as these events keep the economy moving.
“But we should not go to the extreme of shutting down all events entirely, because if we do that, our economy will also stall,” he added.