Young Jakartans’ groovy Ramadhan evening
Unlike other mosques that emptied out after their attendees completed tarawih (extra prayer service during Ramadhan), the Cut Meutia Mosque in Gondangdia, Central Jakarta, was crowded by young people who filled the front yard of the mosque to enjoy the Ramadhan Jazz Festival (RJF) on June 26.
The RJF, held by Cut Meutia Mosque’s Islamic Youth (RICMA) organization in cooperation with jazz portal wartajazz.com, featured various music performers including Abenk Alter, Kunto Aji, Raisa Andriana, Abdul and the Coffee Theory, White Shoes and The Couples Company, Maliq & D’ Essentials, Yura Yunita and Emerald Band.
In lieu of tickets, visitors were asked to give donations, hand over used books or donate blood to enjoy the fifth annual charity concert that was held on June 26-27.
While a number of early-bird visitors already sat comfortably in front of the stage and enjoyed the first performance from Abenk Alter who belted out “Happy” by Pharrel Williams, hundreds of other visitors waited impatiently outside as the organizers tried to manage the crowd.
Organizers let the audience enter the venue in stages as the registration booths were too small for the quickly growing number of visitors.
Firda Firsty, a 22-year-old office worker, said she was unable to find her friends among the audience.
“The entrance system is a bit messy. I think my friends are still held up at the gate,” she said, adding that she was disappointed to be unable to locate the Indonesia Red Cross (PMI) booth to donate blood.
The highlight of the first day was the performance of pop singer Raisa who took to the stage in the middle of the event to the excitement of the audience members who immediately held up their mobile phones to record her.
She entertained fans with some of her hit songs, including “Could It Be”, “Apalah Arti Menunggu” (What’s the Point of Waiting), “Cinta Sempurna” (Perfect Love) and “Teka Teki” (Riddle).
The 25-year-old singer also tried to strengthen the Ramadhan theme by singing a popular slow religious song titled “Dengan Menyebut Nama Allah” (In the Name of Allah).
Diaz Danar, a 25-year-old Raisa fan, said he came to the concert to watch the singer. “I am even wearing a shirt with her picture,” he said, showing off his shirt that depicted a sketch of the singer.
Diaz, who came with 10 other friends, said besides attending the concert, he also tarawih in the Cut Meutia Mosque.
RICMA chairman M. Sukarno Hatta said the committee was aiming to see a 16 percent increase in visitors this year. “We hope to attract at least 7,000 visitors,” he said.
He said the bigger number of visitors was expected to boost the amount of donations. “We cooperate with alms foundation Dompet Dhuafah under the program of Air Untuk Kehidupan [Water for Life] for cash donations and PMI for those who want to donate their blood,” he said.
Hatta said the festival aimed to bring young people closer to Islam. “Music is a universal language. The festival shows that Islam dynamic,” he said, adding that it could become an effective tool of syiar (spreading religious values).
