The Jakarta Post, October 26, 2006
Idul Fitri celebrated Sunday in two Maluku villages
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
While the country's two largest Islamic organizations were debating whether Idul Fitri
would begin Monday or Tuesday, some people in Maluku celebrated the holiday
Sunday.
Residents of Kabauw and Tengah-Tengah villages, on Haruku and Salahutu Islands
respectively, in Central Maluku regency, marked the beginning of Idul Fitri on Sunday.
The government earlier announced the first day of Idul Fitri was Tuesday, in line with
the position taken by Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Islamic organization in the country.
Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization, marked the first day of the
holiday Monday.
While Muslims across the country began Idul Fitri either on Monday or Tuesday,
resident in the two Maluku villages gathered at mosques Sunday morning to perform
the Ied prayers, which mark the start of the holiday.
Tahir Karepesina, a Kabauw youth leader, said villagers celebrated the first day of Idul
Fitri on Sunday because they began fasting two days before the official start of
Ramadhan.
"Old people and religious figures in our village depend more on natural conditions (for
deciding the dates of Idul Fitri)," he said.
Tahir said residents trusted their local religious leaders and their judgment on when
the fasting month and Idul Fitri began. "We fully believe in them," he said.
There were still a small handful of residents in the villages who marked the start of Idul
Fitri on Monday or Tuesday, along with the rest of the country.
Despite the differences over the dates for the religious holiday, there were no conflicts.
Ikram Tuharea, a resident of Tengah-Tengah village, said a few people celebrated the
first day of Idul Fitri on Monday or Tuesday. "We respect these differences," he said.
However, those residents who wished to attend Ied prayers on a day other than
Sunday had to do so at a mosque in a neighboring village.
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