Religious Affairs Minister Urges Congregants to Arrive Early for Eid al-Fitr Prayer at Istiqlal Mosque

Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar has urged the public wishing to perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at Istiqlal Mosque to arrive early, considering the high enthusiasm of congregants each year. He revealed that even before dawn prayer time, worshippers typically begin filling the mosque area to secure spots inside. Therefore, arriving early is deemed essential to allow congregants to worship comfortably. “If you want a spot inside the mosque, I think arriving earlier is better,” said Nasaruddin on Friday (20/3/2026). Eid al-Fitr prayers are scheduled to commence at 07:00 WIB. He stressed that the prayers will proceed on time, so congregants are expected to be at the location beforehand. Besides arrival timing, he also reminded the importance of maintaining order and personal readiness. Congregants are asked to wear modest clothing that covers their aurat, and to bring their own prayer equipment. The Minister also recommended bringing plastic bags to store footwear and avoiding excessive belongings. This is to facilitate mobility and ensure security during worship. He further reminded congregants to remain vigilant with their belongings. Additionally, maintaining the cleanliness, security, and comfort of the mosque environment is a collective responsibility. Moreover, congregants are encouraged to perform wudu at home to avoid crowding at the ablution areas. “Unless the wudu is invalidated, please use the available facilities,” he said. Regarding access for congregants attending Eid al-Fitr prayers at Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin stated that they can enter the mosque area through several main gates. These include the Al-Ghaffar Gate from Jalan Perwira, the Al-Aziz and Al-Jabbar Gates from the Banteng Square area, and the Al-Fattah Gate from the direction of the Cathedral Church. Additionally, access is available through the Ar-Rahman Gate from Gambir Station and Pasar Baru. The Minister hopes congregants can adjust their arrival routes to prevent congestion at one point. On the other hand, the government has prepared various parking pockets around the Istiqlal area. The mosque’s basement parking can accommodate up to 600 cars, while the Pertamina Building provides additional capacity for cars and motorcycles. Other parking locations include the Ministry of Religious Affairs office, Banteng Square, up to the Cathedral Church. Public facilities such as the Post Office, Santa Maria, Jakarta Arts Centre, and the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) area are also prepared as parking alternatives. His side acknowledged that limited parking land poses a particular challenge. Therefore, he urged congregants to consider using public transportation. He also added that the TNI AD Headquarters is specially prepared for VVIP guests such as ministers and ambassadors. With this arrangement, it is hoped that vehicle flow can be better organised. “If there are too many cars, it will certainly become a problem. Therefore, we have prepared several alternatives,” he concluded.