Gibran to Perform Eid al-Adha Prayer at Istiqlal Mosque

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming is set to observe the Eid al-Adha prayer at Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque on Wednesday. Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar confirmed the Vice President's attendance, noting that President Prabowo Subianto, who was initially slated to join, had to make a sudden state visit to France.

"What is certain is that the Vice President and high-ranking officials from our state institutions will still be scheduled to perform their Eid al-Adha worship at Istiqlal Mosque," Nasaruddin stated while inspecting the mosque's readiness on Tuesday.

To ensure security and order, Istiqlal Mosque will undergo a sterilization process starting at midnight Tuesday. No visitors will be permitted entry during this period. "Paspampres (Presidential Security Detail) are also ready. Istiqlal will be sterile from 12 AM, so from that time, Istiqlal will not receive guests," Umar added.

Congregation members will be allowed to enter the mosque from 4:00 AM. Nasaruddin urged attendees to arrive early, anticipating potential traffic congestion, a common occurrence during Eid al-Adha celebrations. "At 4:00 AM, they can start coming, and I urge all prospective congregants to come early because it usually gets congested on Eid al-Adha," he said.