President Jokowi returns to Solo ahead of Eid al-Adha

Sabtu, 15 Juni 2024 19:43 WIB

President Joko Widodo takes a picture with visitors at Solo Paragon Mall, Solo, Central Java, on Saturday (June 15, 2024). (ANTARA/Aris Wasita)

Solo (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) traveled to his hometown Solo in Central Java province ahead of the 2024 Eid al-Adha celebration.

The head of state arrived in Solo on Friday, and on the following day, he took his grandson Jan Ethes Srinarendra and granddaughter La Lembah Manah, the children of Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to Solo Paragon Mall.

President Jokowi was spotted wearing a casual outfit of a white long-sleeved T-shirt and black trousers. He and his entourage arrived at the shopping center at 12:46 p.m. local time.

He then bought some toys for his grandchildren and acquiesced to local residents' requests for a picture with him.

Earlier, the vice mayor of Solo, Teguh Prakosa, disclosed the President's homecoming plan, saying, "Mr. President will arrive in Solo on Friday afternoon to attend to some family matters."

According to the plan, Jokowi will perform Eid al-Adha prayers at Central Java Grand Mosque (MAJT) in Semarang.

A representative of the MAJT, Noor Achmad, said that the President's plan to visit the mosque has been welcomed enthusiastically by MAJT congregants and residents of Central Java.

"His presence at the MAJT has been long-awaited by the people of Central Java, especially the congregants of the MAJT. Thank God, our waiting will end when the President performs the Eid al-Adha prayers," he added.

After the prayers, the head of state will hand over a 1.23-ton sacrificial cow to the management of the mosque for the Qurban ritual.

Earlier, chief of the Presidential Secretariat, Heru Budi Hartono, informed that President Jokowi is planning to provide 68 sacrificial cows that will be donated to 38 provinces, new capital Nusantara, Istiqlal Mosque, and the mosque where he will perform the Eid prayers.

"Each province will receive one cow, and so will Nusantara. The other cows (will be donated) according to Mr. President's personal instructions," Hartono said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, on Friday.

He added that the weight of the sacrificial cows would range between 800 kilograms and around one ton each.