President Jokowi Donates Cow to Istiqlal Mosque

The symbolic handing over of sacrificial cattle from President Jokowi to the Eid al-Adha Committee at Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, Monday (19/7) (Image Source: Screenshot from Presidential Secretariat YouTube Channel)

Head of Administrative Bureau of Presidential Secretariat Sony Kartiko representing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday (19/7) at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta handed over a sacrificial animal to the mosque’s Eid al-Adha Committee.

The sacrificial animal received personally by Chairperson of the Istiqlal Mosque Management Asep Syaifuddin.

“We have prepared 35 cattle to be donated to each province [across the country] and one dedicated cow for Istiqlal Mosque,” Head of Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono said in his press statement, Thursday (15/07).

For the record, the President donated Limousin-cross cow from Pancoran, Jakarta weighing 1,199 kilograms to the Mosque. The cow has been examined by a veterinarian and obtained an animal health certificate stating that it is healthy and does not show any strategic infectious animal disease.

“Presidential Secretariat is collaborating with Ministry of Agriculture to provide the cattle under the control of local veterinarians,” Heru said.

Previously, the Government has announced that this year’s Eid al-Adha will fall on Tuesday (20/7). President Jokowi is slated toperform the Eid prayer at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java.

During Eid al-Adha, Muslims who can afford it are encouraged to perform qurban (sacrifice) in which they buy cows, sheep, or goats to be slaughtered with the meat distributed to the poor and the needy.

Eid al-Adha is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year (the other being Eid al-Fitr), and considered the holier of the two. It honors the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah’s command. (BPMI SETPRES/UN) (GWH/MUR)