Idul Adha

I mentioned several blogs ago how it seemed I can't turn around without bumping into another holiday. I stayed indoors (for other reasons) and avoided all the bloodshed.  Idul Adha is the Day of Sacrifice for Muslims. Idul Adha coupled with Idul Fitri are the two most important Muslim holidays in the year.  Families purchase goats, sheep or cows and turn them over to the mosques and their staff to be sacrificed while their names are read aloud. Then the meat is donated to charity, which is the meaning of this day. It seems to me that it's a particularly gruesome way to encourage folks to donate food to the needy but far be it from me to shun any attempt to help others.  This event also turned Jakarta into one bit cow pasture.  The city took on a very distinct smell as make shift pens went up all over.  Worshipers could chose their own goat/sheep/cow depending on their price and preference.  I was told that goats were 1.2 million Rp. (approx $135) while cows could cost as much as 9 million Rp. (approx $1,011).

This is a goat pre-slaughter on a funny little platform on the back of a motorbike.

 I'll post a few more photos, mostly taken from the back of the ojek. 

As a side note about holidays, here is the official Indonesian government list for next year.  Muslim holidays are in blue, Hindu holidays in yellow, Christian holidays in purple, Buddhist holidays in gray and Indonesian government in red. The one that's left out is Chinese New year.  I wasn't sure where to put that, maybe Buddhist but not necessarily.  I also get additional holidays at my school that include Korean Independence day and Chuseuk (Korean Thanksgiving day) among a few others. You want multicultural?  We got yer multicultural right here!

Official Holiday Schedule for 2011

1 January	Saturday	New Year
3 February	Thursday	Chinese New Year (Imlek) 2562
15 February	Tuesday	Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad
5 March	Saturday	Day of Silence – Hindu New Year 1933
22 April	Friday	Good Friday
24 April	Sunday	Easter Sunday
17 May	Tuesday	Waisak 2555
2 June	Thursday	The Ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven
29 June	Wednesday	Isra Mi'raj Prophet Mohammad SAW, Celebrating the Ascension of The Prophet Muhammad
17 August	Wednesday	Indonesian National Independence Day
29 August	Monday	Shared Holiday by Gvt decree-part of Idul Fitri
30-31 August	Tuesday-Wednesday	Idul Fitri 1432 H
1-2 September	Thursday-Friday	Shared Holiday by Gvt decree-part of Idul Fitri
6 November	Sunday	Idul Adha 1432 H
27 November	Sunday	Islamic New Year 1433 H
25 December	Sunday	Christmas Day
26 December	Monday	Shared Holiday by Gvt decree-part of Christmas

http://www.expat.or.id/info/holidays.html for more information on any of these holidays.