Jakarta. Istiqlal Mosque is set to host Indonesia’s official, state-level Eid al-Fitr prayer on Saturday morning, with authorities preparing to accommodate up to 150,000 worshippers under heightened security.

The prayer for 1 Syawal 1447 Hijri will begin at 07:00 a.m. Jakarta time at Southeast Asia’s largest mosque, where final preparations have reached near completion.

“Preparations are 99.9% complete, we’re ready to proceed. Officers have been assigned, and InsyaAllah, the Eid prayer will start exactly at 07:00 a.m.,” said Abu Hurairah, Head of Social Affairs and Community Empowerment at Istiqlal Mosque, on Friday.

“We invite the public to attend the state-level Eid prayer at Istiqlal. The mosque has a very large capacity, reaching up to 150,000 people,” he added.

The sermon will be delivered by Noorhaidi Hasan, Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, under the theme “Eid Victory: Spreading Kindness, Attaining Blessings.” Ahmad Husni Ismail will lead the prayer as imam.

Security will be led by the Presidential Security Detail, or Paspampres, which is scheduled to conduct a full security sweep of the mosque starting at 02:00 a.m.

“Paspampres will take full control because this is a state-level event. Whether the president attends or not does not affect our preparations. We are preparing to the highest standard,” Abu said.

“This year, InsyaAllah, the Presidential Security Detail has committed to ensuring the Eid prayer is safe, comfortable, and clean,” he added.

All attendees will be required to undergo security screening before entering the mosque.

To accommodate the large number of worshippers, organizers have coordinated with nearby institutions, including Jakarta Cathedral, which will provide parking space for motorcycles. The “Silaturahmi Tunnel” connecting the mosque and the cathedral will be open for pedestrian access.

Additional parking areas will be available at Pertamina buildings, the Religious Affairs Ministry office, Lapangan Banteng, the Central Post Office, and the Army Headquarters’ rear parking area.

Authorities are urging worshippers to arrive early to secure space, particularly on the mosque’s main floors.

“Those who want to get a spot on the main prayer rows, from the ground floor up to the fifth floor, should consider attending the dawn prayer at Istiqlal,” Abu said.

Beyond its role as a place of worship, Istiqlal Mosque stands as a national symbol of independence and religious harmony. Its annual Eid prayer not only marks a major religious observance but also reflects Indonesia’s commitment to orderly, inclusive, and peaceful celebrations.

The continued collaboration with Jakarta Cathedral, including shared facilities like parking and pedestrian access, underscores a longstanding tradition of interfaith cooperation at the heart of the capital.

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