JAKARTA (INDONESIA) – Muslim believers in the country wearing masks underwent temperature checks as a precaution against the pandemic before performing prayers on Friday as part of Eid al-Adha festival in mosques and streets observing social distancing.
In the wake of the world’s biggest Muslim country grappling to contain the spread of the virus, worshippers were told to maintain social distancing during the prayers.
The religious ministry requested mosques to reduce the number of belivers. Many mosques cancelled the traditional ceremony of slaughtering livestock and distributing meat to the community.
The donated livestock will be slaughtered in abattoirs to mark the ‘Feast of the Sacrifice’, which is celebrated by Muslims in memory of Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail at God’s command.
“This year’s Eid al-Adha is very different from the previous years because we need to follow health protocols as we perform prayers, like maintaining social distancing,” said Devita Ilhami, 30, who arrived for prayers at Sunda Kelapa mosque in the nation’s capital.
There were fewer people for prayers this year and they came with their prayer rugs and mats. There were markers on the ground.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field