REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA--Jakarta governor Joko Widodo, know as Jokowi, led a parade from the Hotel Indonesia roundabout to Monas Square on Monday as part of the Jakarta Night Religious Festival to mark Eid Al Adha.
Wearing a white Islamic costume, Jokowi arrived at Hotel Indonesia at 7 p.m. Soon after his arrival, he hit a drum called 'bedug' locally to indicate the start of the festival.
As participants marched behind the governor, 'takbir' was recited continuously from small stages set up along the route. Festival committee chief Rahmat said the Jakarta administration plans to organize the event every year to mark two Islamic holidays, namely Eid Al Adha and the Islamic New Year.
"We hope through the JNRF, Islamic propagation would rise and Jakarta would turn into a religious city," said the member of the Jakarta chapter of Dewan Mesjid Indonesia Jakarta (the Indonesian Mosque Council), or DMI.
Monday's festival featured a drum parade, religious discourses, and entertainment programs.
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