[Indonesian Muslims offer evening mass prayers known as Tarawih during the first eve of holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Great Mosque of Istiqlal in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Apr 2, 2022. (Photo by=Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)]

JAKARTA: The world's largest Muslim-majority nation of Indonesia welcomed the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan 
with a mass prayer at Jakarta's grand mosque on Saturday (Apr 2), with plateauing coronavirus cases allowing for eased restrictions this year, Reuters reported.

Thousands gathered after dusk at Istiqlal mosque in the Indonesian capital to join the Tarawih prayer, special prayers performed only during the month of Ramadan, donning masks and using check-in apps to take part in the event. For the past two years Indonesia has grappled with one of the highest rates of COVID-19 in Asia, but this Ramadan, traditionally a time of community, reflection and prayer, cases have eased enough to allow for mass gatherings. "I feel grateful that we are finally able to gather for the Tarawih prayer, and there are no strict restrictions this time like before," said Tri Haryono, 28.

President Joko Widodo announced last week that mudik would be permitted this year after pandemic-related travel bans have prevented the practise for the past two years. The start of Ramadan, during which observers abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset, can fall on different dates due to differences in sightings of the new moon.