TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta administration is set to hold the Jakarta Muharam Festival in the area of Hotel Indonesia Roundabout (Bundaran HI) on Saturday night, August 31. The event, which is established to commemorate the Islamic new year, will last from 17:00 until midnight.

City Secretary Saefullah said the festival would feature a string of events, including a torch relay, dances, a religious music concert, and salawat (Islamic chants praising Prophet Muhammad) recitation.

“We also invite national artists and hold tausiyah (sermon) and mass prayers in the new year celebration,” said Saefullah at the City Hall, Thursday, August 29.

In addition, the Halal Kuliner Festival or halal culinary will also be organized in two locations: Jl. Kebon Kacang and Imam Bonjol.

The festival will boast three entertainment stages across Jl. Jenderal Sudirman-Thamrin. The series of events will have two break sessions for Muslim to hold Isha and Magrib prayers. “We set up locations for people to take wudhu or ablutions around the festival areas.”

The torch relay, meanwhile, will involve some 2,600 people from each region of Jakarta. The torches used will be electric ones instead of the traditional ones made from bamboo. The event will start at 19:00, starting from the Monas Gate on Jl. M.H. Thamrin to the HI Roundabout.

IMAM HAMDI