President Soeharto leads the first 'Takbir'
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto led the first takbir (praise to Allah), marking the end of Ramadhan and the coming of Idul Fitri celebrations, in a mass gathering at the National Monument (Monas) park Saturday.
The President chanted Allahu Akbar (God is Great) repeatedly after striking Indonesia's largest bedug (traditional drum) in a rhythmical beat. The bedug was specially brought from an old mosque in Bantul regency, Yogyakarta.
"Let's observe Idul Fitri by forgiving each other. Through this forum I ask to be forgiven (by all Indonesian people)," the President said.
Vice President Try Sutrisno, Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher, Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) Hasan Basri and Probo Sutedjo, the organizing committee chairman attended the grand event which cost Rp 1.6 billion (US$666,944).
Zaenuddin MZ, the most popular Moslem preacher, dangdut singer Rhoma Irama plus composer and artist Emha Ainun Nadjib also took to the stage.
The first takbir was then continued by about 2,000 Moslem students.
The President officially started the event at 7.30 p.m. but thousands began flocking to the area from about 3 p.m.
People went to Monas in private cars, by public transport and in open trucks.
The event eventually caused traffic congestion in the Monas park area.
At 5:15 p.m., preacher Zaenuddin M.Z. and singer Rhoma Irama started the ceremony with their sermons, congratulating Moslems for their success in fasting which they called "the battle against evil".
The audience was then absorbed in a prayer led by MUI deputy chairman Ali Yafie.
The mood of brotherhood among them was strong when they broke their last day of fasting together after saying the Magrib (dusk) prayer.
The light was slowly diminishing and the shape a giant Mosque with nine domes appeared.
The domes depicted nine Wali, charismatic religious teachers who disseminated Islam in Java from the 14th to the 16th century. The stage was surrounded by 27 bedug depicting Indonesia's 27 provinces.
Noted artist and poet Emha Ainun Nadjib heightened the religious atmosphere with his poetry glorifying Allah.
Shortly after the President and Vice President left, Governor Surjadi pushed a siren marking the beginning of the 25-minute display of fireworks and the start of a procession of 520 trucks full of passengers.
The number of trucks and vehicles involved in the procession grew as motorists took part.
Idul Fitri eve was also hectic for the zakat fitrah (alms) committees because, according to Islamic teaching, Moslems are obliged to pay alms after completing their fast.
Alms were given in the form of 2.5 kilos of good rice or the amount of money the rice costs, for each individual.
Amananto and H.M. Anwar, chairman of the alms collection committee at the Sunda Kelapa and Al Azhar mosques, said people preferred to pay in cash.
"Moslems consider tonight as an ideal time to pay their alms. So, they come here and we can't refuse them. We should distribute the alms to the poor, orphans and those eligible before midnight," Amananto said Saturday.
About 40 members of Pondok Indah mosque went to nearby kampongs to get first hand information on who would receive the alms.
The City deployed 13,592 police, military officers and officers from the City Land Transportation Control Agency, to secure Idul Fitri festivities. The operation began Jan. 28, and will end Feb. 29.
Accidents marred the event and the Cipto Mangunkusumo Public Hospital recorded one death and 17 injured people on Idul Fitri eve.
Seven surgeons, six interns and 23 nurses were on night duty at the hospital on Idul Fitri eve. (ste/11/anr)