Indonesians are now being asked to pray at homeImage caption: Indonesians are now being asked to pray at home
Indonesia has urged Muslims to practice tarawih, or additional prayers performed at night during fasting month, at home and forgo mass Eid prayers at the end of Ramadan, a move that would dramatically affect the life of millions in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.
Ramadan is typically such a festive month in Indonesia, where about 85% of the more than 260 million-strong population are Muslims. At dawn, some people take to the roads to give early meals, or sahoor, to the poor, and at dusk people break the fast together at restaurants or mosques. Street vendors line up on the roads, selling light meals such as dates or banana in coconut milk. At night, people go to the mosques for tarawih, Koran reading, or donating zakat or alms.
On Eid day, which falls at the end of May, football fields, parking lots, and neighborhood alleys are used to host mass prayers, where many don their new clothes and prayer dresses. Eid shopping is also important for the economy - last year, domestic consumption during Ramadan boosted Indonesia’s GDP growth in the second quarter to 5.17%.
Ramadan this time will be vastly different. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ministry of religious affairs has issued a circular letter urging Muslims to practice prayers, fast breaking, and Koran reading in their homes. It also asks Muslims to carry out online the country’s own halal bi-halal tradition, or social gathering after Eid, to ask forgiveness from friends and families.