(22 Mar 2023)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Istiqlal Grand Mosque, Jakarta, Indonesia - 22 March 2023
1. Wide of Muslims arriving at Istiqlal grand mosque in Jakarta
2. Various of Muslim worshipers arriving
3. Women worshipers sit inside the mosque waiting for the prayer to start
4. Pan left women and men worshipers inside the mosque
5. Wide of worshipers
6. Close a man reading the Koran while waiting for prayer
7. Tilt down from the dome to worshipers get ready for prayer
8. Various of worshipers praying to mark the start of Ramadan
9. SOUNDBITE (Indonesian) Taufik Agani, worshiper:
"This Ramadan is when the value of worship is multiplied by Allah so this is the best time for us to ask forgiveness from the most forgiving God. Because this is the best time, I will use the grace of this Ramadan while I am still alive."
10. People leaving the mosque
STORYLINE:
Millions of Muslims in Indonesia are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan set to begin Thursday.
Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas announced on Wednesday evening that Ramadan will begin on Thursday after the sighting of the crescent moon was confirmed by Islamic astronomy observer teams from several regions.
Most Indonesians — Muslims comprise nearly 90% of the country’s 277 million people — are expected to follow the government’s official date.
Shortly after the announcement, mosques flooded with devotees offering evening prayers known as "tarawih” on the first eve of Ramadan.
In Jakarta’s Istiqlal Grand Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, tens of thousands of worshippers crammed together shoulder-to-shoulder.
During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual intercourse from sunrise until sunset.
Even a tiny sip of water or a puff of smoke is enough to invalidate the fast.
At night, family and friends gather and feast in a festive atmosphere.
The fasting is aimed at bringing the faithful closer to God and reminding them of the suffering of the poor.
Muslims are expected to strictly observe daily prayers and engage in heightened religious contemplation.
They are also urged to refrain from gossip, fighting or cursing during the holy month.
"This Ramadan is when the value of worship is multiplied by Allah so this is the best time for us to ask forgiveness from the most forgiving God,” said Taufik Agani, a worshiper.
AP Video shot by Fadlan Syam
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