Tarawih Prayers At The Ar-Rahman Mosque In Blitar, Ganjar: Kayaking Prayers In Medina

Ganjar Pranowo (Photo via Central Java Provincial Government)

BLITAR - The Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo stopped by Blitar on his working visit to East Java. There, he stopped by to pray at the Ar-Rahman Mosque, one of the large mosques in the area.

Ganjar arrived at the Ar-Rahman Mosque at the time of breaking the fast. Welcomed by the owner of the Mayangkara Group, Agus Wawan, Ganjar then broke the fast together and prayed maghrib at the mosque.

The beauty of the mosque makes Ganjar feel at home. Ganjar's activities there are not only maghrib prayers. Ganjar took the time to pray Isha followed by tarawih at the mosque with an architecture like the mosque in Medina.

The mosque has an umbrella like the mosque in Nabawi. Inside the mosque, the pillars stand with gold-colored copper coils. The lights that decorate are also similar to the lights in the Prophet's Mosque. In addition, the priest's section is also designed similar to the Kaaba so that the congregation feels as if praying in front of the Kaaba.

"Yes, I wanted to go straight to the hotel and pray there, but Mas Wawan offered to pray at this mosque. After I prayed, masyaallah, the mosque is amazing. I immediately fell in love," said Ganjar, who is from the PDI-P.

Therefore he decided to perform the Isha and Tarawih prayers at the mosque. Ganjar and his wife, Siti Atikoh then worshiped at that place with hundreds of other worshipers.

"This is extraordinary, it feels like praying in Medina," he explained.

Ganjar explained, the existence of the Ar-Rahman Mosque turned out to be a religious tourism destination for the community. Every day, the mosque is always crowded with visitors.

"Many people come, especially now that it's Ramadan, they can congregate here, perform tarawih and others. Information from Mas Wawan said that the mosque wants to be enlarged.

When asked about his visit to Blitar, Ganjar said the main purpose was a pilgrimage to Bung Karno's grave. However, he was invited by archaeologists and cultural observers to visit the Penataran Temple.

"Tomorrow I will be invited by Pinknik to Penataran Temple, so I can see the historical heritage there," he concluded.