Ramadhan starts on Wednesday, minister says

Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agil Husein Al Munawar said on Monday that based on the Islamic calendar and computations, the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan would likely start on Wednesday.

Speaking after the inauguration of a haj media center here, Said Agil said that according to Islamic astronomy, the change of month should occur on Tuesday night and fasting should start on Wednesday.

Nevertheless, he would announce the first day of Ramadhan officially on Tuesday night after a confirmation meeting with leaders of local Islamic organizations and Islamic astronomers at his office.

They will make their decision after sighting the new moon.

In past years, the country's two largest Muslim organizations -- Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah -- often differed as to the exact start of the fasting month, as well as its ending.

Said Agil said that this year, Muslims in Indonesia would likely start Ramadhan on the same day, Wednesday.

He warned, however, that the two largest organizations might differ this year on the ending of Ramadhan and the beginning of the Idul Fitri celebrations.

Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah decided on Monday that the first day of Ramadhan would fall on Wednesday while Idul Fitri would start on Dec. 5, one day ahead of the government's official date.

The decision, according to the team assigned by Muhammadiyah to determine the first day of Ramadhan and Idul Fitri, was taken based on scientific astronomic calculations.

NU, nevertheless, has not announced its decision on the matter. NU normally announces the first day of Ramadhan after its team of experts see the moon with their own eyes.

Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif said in Yogyakarta that Muslims should not quarrel over when Ramadhan and Idul Fitri would begin.

Elsewhere, Minister Said urged places of entertainment to respect the holy month so that people who were fasting would not be disturbed and could properly perform their religious duties.

He left it up to local administrations to regulate the operation of entertainment centers in their respective jurisdictions over Ramadhan. --JP