President opens festival of Islamic arts and culture
President opens festival of Islamic arts and culture
JAKARTA (JP): The Second Istiqlal Festival of Islamic arts and
culture opened to the thunder of 50 drums here on Saturday night.
President Soeharto was given the honor of sounding the first
beats, striking the 13th century bedug (leather drum) brought
from the Sunan Ampel mosque in Surabaya especially for the event.
Students from Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia then
followed suit on 50 drums to give the audience a foretaste of the
combination of Indonesia's tradition and religious influences
expected at the festival.
The Second Istiqlal Festival is bigger, and longer, than the
first one held four years ago at the Grand Istiqlal Mosque. There
are more participants, both local and foreign, and it will go on
for two months.
In 1991, an unexpected 6.1 million people visited the
festival. This year, the organizers hope at least 10 million will
turn up.
On Saturday, Soeharto also put the last touches to the
Istiqlal Mushaf, a compilation of Koranic scripture with
traditional decorations representing Indonesia's 27 provinces.
The 123 by 88 centimeter book of 938 pages is the result of
the major undertaking begun nearly four years ago on Oct. 15,
1991, when Soeharto recorded the Basmallah (In The Name of God)
phrase in it.
The Istiqlal Mushaf, considered the grand creation of the
Indonesian people, will be on display during the festival.
Par excellence
Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad, who is also the chairman
of the festival organizing committee, described the work as one
of "par excellence", Kompas daily reported yesterday.
"For a nation of people who strongly adhere to religion, art
does not only take our spirit to a sense of beauty, it also turns
our conscience to matters in life that are more profound and
principled," Soeharto said in his speech opening the festival.
Spiritual progress, he said, is as crucial as material
progress for Indonesia's national development. "What's the use of
material progress if spiritually we are barren and suffering."
In terms of achievements, Soeharto likened the completion of
the Istiqlal Mushaf to last month's maiden flight of the N-250,
the first wholly domestically designed airplane and a source of
national pride.
"In this religion-inspired festival, we are presenting the
moral, ethical and spiritual aspects of our national development.
By witnessing and taking part in the various programs in the
festival, we hope we can strengthen our faith and our sense of
nationalism," Soeharto said.
The Rp 10 billion (US$4.4 million) festival will present
various art and cultural products and performances that have been
inspired by Islam.
One gallery at the Istiqlal Mosque is allocated for the
display of various ancient and contemporary books and
manuscripts, including the Koran.
If things go according to plan the highlight of this display
will be a letter from Prophet Muhammad sent to a Roman Emperor,
urging him to embrace Islam. The organizers said they have
received word from Tashkent approving to lending of the letter
for the festival. The ancient letter is currently at a museum
there.
Other attractions include photographs of mosques in Indonesia
and around the world, whose architectural styles were inspired in
various ways by the teachings of Islam.
There will also be displays of both ancient and contemporary
Islamic art.
During the next two months, the festival organizers will also
hold a number of competitions, including adzan (the call for
prayer), sajadah (Islamic prayer rug) design, the art of
calligraphy, scientific writing and photo contests.
Foreign countries taking part include Britain, Turkey, Egypt,
Morocco, Iran, Spain, Singapore, and Brunei. (imn)