Muslims in Indonesia mark the beginning of Ramada

Jakarta, Indonesia (AP) – Muslims in Indonesia buy sweets and new clothes and take part in traditional celebrations Millions observe the holy month of Ramadanwho started on Saturday.

Celebrations in The most populous country in the world in the world Rang from colorful nightly parades and cleaning trenches to the preparation of food for breakfast and elaborate meals after the Sundown, which are known as “Iftars”.

Every region in the huge archipelago of 17,000 islands has its own way to mark the beginning of Ramadan when Muslims do without, drink, smoking and sexually sexual intercourse from sunrise to sunset.

Even a tiny sip of water or a cloud of smoke is enough to make fasting invalid. Family and friends gather in a festive atmosphere at night.

The Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, announced on Friday that Ramadan will begin on Saturday after the viewing of the crescent moon was confirmed by Islamic astronomy observers in the westernmost province of Aceh Indonesia.

Shortly after the announcement, mosques flooded with submissions that offer evening prayers who were known as “Tarawih” on the first evening of Ramadan. In the Grand Mosque of Jakartas Istiqlal, the largest in Southeast Asia, tens of thousands of attachments were shoulder together.

The Taga -length fasting aims to bring the believers closer to God And reminds them of the suffering of the poor. It is expected that Muslims strictly observe the daily prayers and do an increased religious view. You will also be asked to do without gossip during the holy month.

Torches, drums and tradition

Samsul Anwar, his wife and 8-year-old nephew were among hundreds of people who took part in a torchy light parade along the streets of their neighborhood in Tangerang, a city outside the capital of Jakarta on Wednesday after the evening prayers.

They wore torches, illuminated torches and played Islamic songs, accompanied by the clock of Rebana, the Arabic Handheld Percussion instrument when they walked the narrow streets of the densely populated neighborhood.

“Every year we welcome Ramadan with a tradition that was passed on from generation to generation,” said Anwar.

The Chinese Indones also took part in the parade by performing the lively “Barongsai” or “Lion Dance”, an outstanding part of the Chinese New Year's celebration, to the sound of drums and trumpets.

The performance in Barongsai “was also recorded in order to show the unity between the religious communities of Chinese and Muslims in order to increase religious tolerance,” said Anwar.

Living costs

It is also an exciting time for business. Hotels, restaurants and cafés prepare all special Ramadan campaigns, and buyers flow in shopping centers for new clothing and residential decorations for the vacation of EID al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. Children often get new clothes and gifts.

However, some Muslims fear how they will be financially bypassing this year during prices during the Ramadan.

“Everything that has to do with cooking rises from day to day (in terms of costs),” said Asih Mulyawati, a mother of two children who lives in Jakarta's foreign district of Tangerang. “I'm worried that this situation will affect Ramadan celebrations.”

Despite the rising food prices last month, popular markets were bought in Jakarta, such as Taahn, before vacationing with buyers who bought clothes, shoes, cookies and sweets.

The Indonesian Ministry of Commerce said that prices for imported staple food such as wheat, sugar, beef and soybeans have increased significantly this year due to increasing global raw material prices and disorders of the supply chain.

However, many people say that the increase in prices not only affects imported foods, but also local raw materials such as rice, eggs, chilli, palm oil and onions. Many also accuse the government for rising gas and electricity prices.

“The current one dark economic situation And extreme weather has recently contributed to the increasing prices and to weaken people, ”said Heru Tatok, a dealer on the Jakarta Pasar Senen market.

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Associated Press Journalists Andi Jatmiko and Tatan Syufflana in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.