Yesterday's News: Ramadhan Start Date Declared and Lunar New Year Celebrations Across Indonesia
Jakarta (ANTARA) - A number of notable cultural and religious events took place across Indonesia on Tuesday (17 February). These ranged from the Government's official determination of the start of Ramadhan 2026 falling on Thursday, 19 February, to the warm glow of candles and harmony of Lunar New Year celebrations in Kubu Raya.
**Government Declares Start of Ramadhan 2026 as Thursday, 19 February**
The Government, through the Ministry of Religious Affairs, officially determined the start of fasting — or 1 Ramadhan 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE — as falling on Thursday, 19 February 2026, following the Isbat Session held at Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, on Tuesday.
"The Isbat Session has determined that 1 Ramadhan 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE falls on Thursday," said Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar whilst leading the press conference announcing the session's decision.
This decision differs from that of the Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah, which determined the start of Ramadhan one day earlier, on Wednesday (18 February). Differences in methodology underpin the divergence in determining the start of Ramadhan.
**Ministry of Religious Affairs: Hilal Does Not Meet MABIMS Criteria; Ramadhan Starts Thursday**
The Ministry of Religious Affairs stated that, based on astronomical calculations, the position of the hilal (new crescent moon) across all Indonesian territories on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, did not yet meet the hilal visibility criteria agreed upon by MABIMS member states (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore).
"Therefore, 1 Ramadhan 1447 Hijriah, by astronomical calculation, falls on Thursday Pahing, 19 February 2026," said Cecep Nurwendaya, a member of the Ministry's Hisab Rukyat (Astronomical Calculation and Moon Sighting) Team, in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Cecep explained that the hilal's position across Indonesian territory at the time of observation ranged from minus 2 degrees 24 minutes 43 seconds to minus 0 degrees 55 minutes 41 seconds, with elongation between 0 degrees 56 minutes 23 seconds and 1 degree 53 minutes 36 seconds.
**Some Residents of Jember and Bondowoso Begin Fasting Early**
Some residents of Jember and Bondowoso regencies in East Java, who are congregants of Pondok Pesantren Mahfilud Dluror, commenced their Ramadhan fast early, on Tuesday.
"We already performed tarawih prayers on Monday (16 February) evening and began fasting today, joined by all congregants and alumni, as well as residents living near the pesantren, numbering in the thousands," said KH Ali Wafa, the head of Pondok Pesantren Mahfilud Dluror, in Jember on Tuesday.
He said the determination of the fasting start date was based on a conviction using the khumasi system (from the Arabic word meaning five/khomsatun), which is based on the book Nushatul Majaalis by Sheikh Abdurrahman As-Shufuri As-Syafi'i and has been practised for 198 years.
**Cabinet Secretary Teddy Extends Gong Xi Fa Cai Greetings; Netizens Request Angpau**
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya conveyed Lunar New Year 2577 Kongzili greetings to all Indonesians celebrating the occasion.
In his official statement via the Cabinet Secretariat's social media channels in Jakarta on Tuesday, Teddy expressed hope that the Lunar New Year — ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse — would bring blessings to the Indonesian nation.
"Happy Lunar New Year 2577 Kongzili to all Indonesians who celebrate," he said.
**Candlelight and Harmony: Lunar New Year in Kubu Raya**
More than two decades after Indonesia's fourth President, Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), reopened the space for Lunar New Year and Cap Go Meh celebrations in Indonesia, the pulse of these festivities continues to be felt in the regions to this day, including in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan.
Gus Dur revoked Presidential Instruction No. 14 of 1967, permitting open Lunar New Year celebrations throughout Indonesia.
Kubu Raya Regency, known for its pluralistic community life, saw a palpable atmosphere of welcome for Lunar New Year 2577 Kongzili, taking place alongside a spirit of preserving harmony between ethnic groups and religious communities.
**Government Declares Start of Ramadhan 2026 as Thursday, 19 February**
The Government, through the Ministry of Religious Affairs, officially determined the start of fasting — or 1 Ramadhan 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE — as falling on Thursday, 19 February 2026, following the Isbat Session held at Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, on Tuesday.
"The Isbat Session has determined that 1 Ramadhan 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE falls on Thursday," said Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar whilst leading the press conference announcing the session's decision.
This decision differs from that of the Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah, which determined the start of Ramadhan one day earlier, on Wednesday (18 February). Differences in methodology underpin the divergence in determining the start of Ramadhan.
**Ministry of Religious Affairs: Hilal Does Not Meet MABIMS Criteria; Ramadhan Starts Thursday**
The Ministry of Religious Affairs stated that, based on astronomical calculations, the position of the hilal (new crescent moon) across all Indonesian territories on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, did not yet meet the hilal visibility criteria agreed upon by MABIMS member states (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore).
"Therefore, 1 Ramadhan 1447 Hijriah, by astronomical calculation, falls on Thursday Pahing, 19 February 2026," said Cecep Nurwendaya, a member of the Ministry's Hisab Rukyat (Astronomical Calculation and Moon Sighting) Team, in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Cecep explained that the hilal's position across Indonesian territory at the time of observation ranged from minus 2 degrees 24 minutes 43 seconds to minus 0 degrees 55 minutes 41 seconds, with elongation between 0 degrees 56 minutes 23 seconds and 1 degree 53 minutes 36 seconds.
**Some Residents of Jember and Bondowoso Begin Fasting Early**
Some residents of Jember and Bondowoso regencies in East Java, who are congregants of Pondok Pesantren Mahfilud Dluror, commenced their Ramadhan fast early, on Tuesday.
"We already performed tarawih prayers on Monday (16 February) evening and began fasting today, joined by all congregants and alumni, as well as residents living near the pesantren, numbering in the thousands," said KH Ali Wafa, the head of Pondok Pesantren Mahfilud Dluror, in Jember on Tuesday.
He said the determination of the fasting start date was based on a conviction using the khumasi system (from the Arabic word meaning five/khomsatun), which is based on the book Nushatul Majaalis by Sheikh Abdurrahman As-Shufuri As-Syafi'i and has been practised for 198 years.
**Cabinet Secretary Teddy Extends Gong Xi Fa Cai Greetings; Netizens Request Angpau**
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya conveyed Lunar New Year 2577 Kongzili greetings to all Indonesians celebrating the occasion.
In his official statement via the Cabinet Secretariat's social media channels in Jakarta on Tuesday, Teddy expressed hope that the Lunar New Year — ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse — would bring blessings to the Indonesian nation.
"Happy Lunar New Year 2577 Kongzili to all Indonesians who celebrate," he said.
**Candlelight and Harmony: Lunar New Year in Kubu Raya**
More than two decades after Indonesia's fourth President, Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), reopened the space for Lunar New Year and Cap Go Meh celebrations in Indonesia, the pulse of these festivities continues to be felt in the regions to this day, including in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan.
Gus Dur revoked Presidential Instruction No. 14 of 1967, permitting open Lunar New Year celebrations throughout Indonesia.
Kubu Raya Regency, known for its pluralistic community life, saw a palpable atmosphere of welcome for Lunar New Year 2577 Kongzili, taking place alongside a spirit of preserving harmony between ethnic groups and religious communities.