SBY Prays at Istiqlal Mosque

Jakarta (Antara Bali ) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono attended Idul Fitri prayers at the Istiqlal grand mosque on Thursday.

President Yudhoyono wore a black coat and a red sarong and sat next to Vice President Boediono. The president's son and a number of cabinet ministers and foreign ambassadors sat close to the president and vice president, while the first lady, her daughters-in-law, and granddaughter Almira Tungga Dewi sat next to Madame Herawati Boediono.

The Istiqlal grand mosque is the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia and can accommodate approximately 120 thousand people. On Thursday, the mosque was packed with thousands of people who had come from all corners of the city to attend the prayers.

Idul Fitri prayers at the Istiqlal grand mosque commenced at 7 am, with H Hasanuddin Sinaga leading the prayers. After the prayers, H Farid Wajdi Ibrahim delivered his Idul Fitri sermon.

On this festive occasion, President Yudhoyono wished all the citizens of Indonesia a happy Idul Fitri on his Twitter account. "Let us celebrate this special and victorious day with clean hearts. I wish you a happy Idul Fitri, Mohon Maaf Lahir dan Batin," he wrote on his Twitter account. (*/DWA)