An observer peering through a telescopeat Madura's Ambat Beach on Thursday.
The government and one of Indonesia's major Islamic organization have agreed that this year’s Ramadan fasting month will not start until Saturday. “We have not seen the rise of the new moon yet, so tomorrow [Friday] is not the beginning of Ramadan,” said Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni. “Ramadan will start on Saturday.” The sighting of the new moon marks the onset of Ramadan. The astronomical observations were compiled from nine locations across the archipelago in addition to reports from 29 regions. Muhammadiyah, the country’s second-largest Islamic organization, has agreed that Ramadan will start on Saturday. The largest Muslim movement, the Nahdlatul Ulama, has requested further confirmation.
