Eid Al-Fitr 1443 Hijri, Indonesian Consul General In Sydney Invites Congregants To Pray For War And Conflict In The World To Ease

Eid prayer atmosphere at Diamond Venues, Sydney, Australia. (Source: Consulate General in Sydney)

JAKARTA - Indonesian diplomats invite the Muslim community in Sydney to pray for the crises that occur in various parts of the world to subside, when the COVID-19 health protocol no longer limits the celebration of Eid this year.

The first time it was held without restrictions after the COVID-19 pandemic for the past two years, the Muslim community of Sydney, Australia held Eid Prayers 1443 Hijriah at Diamond Venues.

This Eid prayer was organized by the Center for Islamic Da'wah and Education (CIDE) New South Wales, one of the largest Indonesian Muslim organizations in Australia.

CIDE NSW President Herman Rahman, thanked the local Muslims, who attended around 1,500 worshipers for this prayer. Those who acted as preachers on this occasion were the Director of the Postgraduate Program at Darussalam Gontor University, Dr. Khalid Muslih.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Consul General in Sydney, Vedi Kurnia Buana, invited the Muslims who were present to pray for the citizens of the world, both those who were in the midst of conflict and war, as well as those who were stricken by calamities.

"I invite the congregation to pray that the war and conflict that is currently engulfing the world will soon subside. And pray for Muslims around the world who are being afflicted by calamities and trials," he said in a written statement from the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney, Monday 2 May.

This year's Eid celebration in Sydney feels special, because it was held without any restrictions, taking into account the relatively improving pandemic conditions.

Apart from the Diamond Venues, this Eid celebration was also organized by a number of other Indonesian Muslim community organizations, such as the Ashabul Kahfi Islamic Center (AKIC), IQRO Foundation and the Foundation of Islamic Studies and Information (FISI).

Previously, Ramadan worship activities, which had undergone adjustments during the last 2 years during the pandemic, were now carried out normally. The mosque is busy again. The activity of visiting each other's house in the context of reconnecting was carried out. Various Ramadan programs were again implemented.

One of them, as the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney, collaborated with 11 Indonesian Muslim community organizations in New South Wales and Queensland in the series of Gema Ramadan programs. The program consists of various interesting activities, ranging from Ngabuburit, Pesantren Kilat, Tarawih Prayers, to thematic studies around brain health, Islamic parenting to zakat.