(Fighting against New Coronary Pneumonia) Indonesia enters Ramadan and prohibits public officials from holding group activities such as breaking the fast

  China News Agency, Jakarta, April 3 (Reporter Lin Yongchuan) Indonesian Muslims will enter the month-long fasting month of Ramadan this year from the 3rd.

The country's President Joko Widodo has announced a ban on public officials from holding festivities that could lead to gatherings, such as iftar and family gatherings, during the fasting month of Ramadan.

  Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, and Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr are the most important traditional festivals in the country.

Indonesia's Ministry of Religion announced that the country's fasting month of Ramadan will begin on April 3 this year.

  The significance of Eid al-Fitr in Indonesia is equivalent to the Spring Festival in China and Christmas in Western countries. It is a day of thanksgiving and celebration.

From this day on, Muslims can resume their daily three meals a day.

The vast majority of Muslims rush back to their hometowns to celebrate the festival with their families.

  On the day of Eid al-Fitr, every household cleans up their homes. People dress in costumes and visit each other. Many institutions and units will hold group prayers, which is a festive scene.

  Due to the impact of the new crown epidemic, Indonesia has strictly prohibited people from returning to their hometowns for Eid al-Fitr for two consecutive years.

People who have completed their Covid-19 vaccinations will be allowed to return home this year as the outbreak eases.

  According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, as of April 2, nearly 197 million people in the country have been vaccinated against the new crown, of which nearly 160 million have completed two doses and over 23.57 million have received a third booster dose.

The country's transportation department predicts that more than 100 million people will return to their hometowns to celebrate Eid al-Fitr this year.

  Earlier, Jokowi announced that all civil servants will be banned from holding "common breaking of the fast" and congregational celebrations during the fasting month of Ramadan this year, which may lead to mass gatherings.

Widodo said that although the current daily increase in cases continues to decline, citizens still need to be careful.

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