ACEH - Thousands of worshipers thronged the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, Banda Aceh City, Aceh Province to carry out the first tarawih prayers in the holy month of Ramadan 1443 Hijri on Saturday, April 2 night.
"The Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is an iconic mosque, the pride of the Acehnese. The Tarawih prayer here reminds us of the Prophet's Mosque in the Holy Land, I hope I can go there," said a congregational Eka Amaranggana (22) in Banda Aceh.
The congregation began to visit the mosque after the Maghrib prayer. The congregation continued to arrive even though the atmosphere of the first tarawih prayer was drenched in light rain. The inside of the mosque which has a capacity of about 9 thousand people was full.
The people of Banda Aceh and its surroundings who are not accommodated inside must pray in the mosque's yard and under a large umbrella similar to the one in the Prophet's Mosque.
The congregation in the courtyard of the mosque, not fully occupied. Only some of them are under the big umbrella. The total capacity of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque outside and inside the mosque is 24,000 people.
Some residents were also seen wearing masks considering that they were still in the condition of the spread of COVID-19. However, the government relaxed and allowed worshipers to pray Tarawih in congregation.
"I'm an overseas child from Simeulue, I study at UIN Ar-Raniry. I really tried this first tarawih prayer here, because it has its own impression," said Eka, as reported by Antara.
Previously, the Acting Head of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) of the Great Mosque of Baiturrahman Saifannur said that the implementation of Tarawih prayers and other worship at this mosque during Ramadan 1443 Hijriah would no longer impose saf restrictions or social distancing arrangements among worshipers.
"No longer keeping a distance, the staff stays tight. Keep personal health. Congregants must make sure they are healthy before going to Tarawih, praying sunnah and witr together," he said.
He said that in order to welcome the holy month of Ramadan 1443 H, his party together with TNI personnel from the Iskandar Muda Military Command had cleaned the entire yard of the mosque, the pride of the Acehnese people.
During this Ramadan, the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque will also carry out several other activities such as Tadarus until 23.30 WIB.
"Later we will also carry out qiyamul lail on the last 15 days of Ramadan and the commemoration of the Nuzul Quran," said Saifannur.
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