Indonesian Mosques Hosting Muslims without Limitation for First Time in 3 Years
Mosques are now allowed to conduct prayers at full capacity for the first time during Ramadan since the start of the pandemic almost three years ago. Worshippers are also no longer required to wear face masks.
Attendees at mosques said they are rejoicing at the scrapping of the curbs, which included a limit on gatherings and movements.
“Doing prayers now is much more conducive as compared to the previous years because we are free from restrictions,” said Mr Ahmad Mualim Ade, a worshipper at Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, the biggest in the country.
“There are no restrictions in mosques. All mosques can accept as many worshippers as they wish. Conditions are much better after the PPKM revocation,” he added, using an acronym related to the government’s pandemic restriction policies.
When the capital city was still bound by COVID-19 rules last year, the Istiqlal Mosque granted access to a maximum of 10,000 worshippers to pray inside its hall.
This year, after the government removed the curbs, the mosque is allowing up to 150,000 people to pray inside at any one time.
In the days leading up to Ramadan, many Muslims also visited cemeteries to pay their respects to the dead.
“For me, this is to remind ourselves that we will return to Allah, that one day we will rest in a grave,” Jakarta resident Yusuf Anuari told CNA as he and his family visited the Karet Tengsin cemetery to pay respects to his late parents.
“We (visit the cemetery) before the fasting month so that we can fast with sincerity and remember to observe fasting with fervour.”
Last week, hundreds of residents in South Jakarta took part in a torch parade to welcome the fasting month.
This long-standing Indonesian tradition was suspended for two years during the height of COVID-19, but resumed in 2022 after the country exited the acute phase of the pandemic.
Source: channelnewsasia.com
