A number of notable clerics, including chief of the Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI), Ma`ruf Amin, arrived at the venue at 5:20 p.m.
He stated that "this event has been held routinely on Aug 1. It has so far been held twice because Pak (Mr) Jokowi (the president) has asked for a national prayer to be held every August 1, ahead of the independence anniversary."
He noted that through the event, the Indonesian nation would seek God`s blessings to meet challenges.
"Some of the obstacles may be eliminated, while the impact of others may be reduced. Some others may possibly be beyond human power. Through this event, we would seek God`s help to safeguard and ease the burden of the nation," he explained.
The prayer event was organized by the state secretariat. The office will also hold an art exhibition presenting 45 art items, including paintings and sculptures from 34 artists from the country and abroad, at Galeri Nasional Indonesia from Aug 3 to 31.
The art items are taken from the collection of the state palaces in Jakarta, Bogor, Tampaksiring (Bali), Yogyakarta, and Cipanas.
Reporting by Bayu Prasetyo
Editing by Yoseph Hariyadi, Eliswan Azaly
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
