The President of Indonesian Mosque Management in Vestal, Melbourne, Petta Rukka Deng Gora, told ANI, after hearing ANIC’s announcement, his party had prepared itself for the first Taraweeh prayer on Friday (01/04) night.
“From tonight we will offer Taraweeh prayer in Vestal and we have communicated this to all congregations,” Petta Rukka told Fareed Ibrahim from ABC Indonesia.
Apart from Westall, two other Indonesian community-run mosques in Melbourne also followed ANIC’s reference as an institution for Muslim imams in Australia, he said.
According to Petta Rukka, the difference in the timing of the start of fasting does not have much effect on the congregation of the Vestal Mosque.
“We have also scheduled a joint iftar activity on Saturday, for which we have invited the Consul General of Indonesia to participate here along with Indonesian citizens,” Petta Rukka said.
He also said that the Vestal Mosque had received the arrival of a preacher from Indonesia, who would be tasked with delivering lessons and lectures during the month of Ramadan.
Other preparations include cleaning the mosque and preparing parking lots to anticipate crowds.
“Now that pandemic restrictions are being eased, we have estimated the number of worshipers coming to Vestal by setting up a parking lot in a field behind the mosque,” he explained.
Another Indonesian mosque, Surau Kita, located in Melbourne’s Coburg area, is also starting Taraweeh this Friday night.
Fakhruddin Rasideen, the administrator of Surau Keita Masjid, said that his party would offer Taraweeh prayers every night during Ramadan, followed by religious lectures.
“In addition, we will also organize iftar activities together every Saturday and Sunday,” he explained.
The management of the Surau Kita Mosque has also scheduled the implementation of Eid al-Fitr 1443 at the Brunswick Sports Hall, as was usually done before the pandemic.
