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)