Idul Fitri as momentum to bolster spirit of national unity, president says

Jakarta, NU Online
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will be gathering along with his family at the Bogor Presidential Palace during the night before Idul Fitri, known as takbiran, Antara news agency reported.

"The president will gather with his family on the night before Idul Fitri, known as takbiran," Deputy of Press, Protocol, and Media of the Presidential Secretariat Bey Machmudin remarked in Jakarta on Tuesday.

In addition, on the first day of Lebaran (Idul Fitri holidays), the Presidential Secretariat will hold Jokowi's open house reception to mark Idul Fitri celebrations for the public on Wednesday.

Machmudin expounded that the people keen on attending Jokowi's open house reception can congregate at the National Monument (Monas) to register themselves.

Furthermore, the residents will be brought to the State Palace complex, Jakarta, aboard several buses. On arrival at the State Palace, the community will gather in a special tent while awaiting their turn to meet Jokowi.

"The community will be served while they await Jokowi's arrival," he remarked.

Earlier, on Monday (June 3), Jokowi had delivered Idul Fitri greetings to all Indonesians celebrating it.

The president is optimistic that the Idul Fitri celebrations would serve as a momentum to bolster the spirit of national unity and brotherhood, both within families and among communities.

Earlier, at an Isbat (confirmation) meeting, the government had decided that the start of 1 Shawwal, or Idul Fitri 1440 Hegira/2019 AD, fell on Wednesday, June 5.

The decision is based on the results of Islamic congregation conducted by the Ministry of Religion along with several parties on monitoring the crescent moon from 33 provinces in Indonesia.

"1 Syawal 1440 Hijrah falls on Wednesday, June 5, 2019," Minister of Religion Lukman Hakim Saifuddin stated in Jakarta, Monday.

He revealed that the crescent moon was monitored from 105 locations spread across 33 Indonesian provinces. (Masdar)