Indonesian Muslims pray during the start of the holy month of Ramadan at the Baiturrahman Mosque in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, on May 5 (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – Muslims in Indonesia beganfasting for the Ramadan festive month on May 6.
Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman HakimSaifuddin said the ministry had received nine reports on sightings of the moonin 102 observation points across the country to decide the beginning day of themost holy month of the year for Muslims in Indonesia.
This decision was also considered at a meetingwith representatives from the Supreme Court, the Meteorology, Climatology andGeophysics Agency (BMKG), the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space(LAPAN), the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), and experts from Islamicorganisations, according to the Minister.
On May 5, Tarawih prayer ceremony was observedin all mosques before the start of the fasting month.
Ahead of the festive month, the Indonesiangovernment has worked with ministries and relevant agencies such as theMinistry of State Owned Enterprises, the Ministry of Agriculture, and theMinistry of Trade to conduct all necessary preparations, especially dealingwith the instability of prices of staple foods like beef, onion and chilli,which often occurs during this time.
Every year, about 1.7 billion Muslims around theworld, accounting for nearly 25 percent of the global population, performrituals for Ramadan.-VNA
VNA
