By NNN-Antara
Jakarta : Muslims in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Islamic-majority nation, are to begin the holy fasting month of Ramadhan on Thursday, a religious affairs ministry official said.
“The minister officially announced last night that the first day of Ramadhan falls on Thursday,” said Nursiyah, a ministry official said Wednesday.
The announcement was made at the end of a meeting with representatives of major Islamic organisations here to hear their views and calculations regarding the start of the fasting month.
Islamic astronomers observed the moon at numerous locations across the sprawling archipelago nation last night but did not sight the new moon.
Observing the new moon is the traditional way of determining the start of the ninth and holiest month of the Muslim calendar.
Some groups fix the start of Ramadhan by astronomical calculations, meaning they are sometimes divided on when to begin, but this year they are in agreement.
During the holy month, Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink and sex from dawn until dusk. The fasting is one of the five main obligations for Muslims, who account for more than 90 percent of Indonesia’s 232 million people.