Thousands Gather at Monas for National Prayer and Zikir Event

Thousands of white-clad citizens converged on Jakarta's National Monument (Monas) on Saturday for a national zikir and prayer event. The gathering, aimed at welcoming Indonesia's Independence Month, saw attendees arriving by bus from various regions, including Tasikmalaya, West Java.

Upon entering the Monas area, participants were directed into male and female groups for bag checks and souvenir distribution. They received prayer mats and prayer sets, including mukenas for women and sarongs for men, from the Presidential Palace. Many then spread their prayer mats around a prepared stage.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs estimated that around 100,000 people from across Indonesia would attend the event. The gathering, which was open to the public, was scheduled to run until 9:30 PM Western Indonesian Time. Participants could enter the main area from 3:00 PM, with LED screens placed outside for those unable to access the central venue. Support facilities included 100,000 bottles of water and 100,000 filled buns provided by Baznas, along with 75 cleanliness volunteers.