How Have Indonesian Presidents Celebrated Eid from Time to Time?

What was special about Eid during the era of the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno?

H Mangil Martowidjojo in his book entitled Testimony about Bung Karno 1945-1967 noted that every Lebaran, precisely after the Eid prayer in the courtyard of the Jakarta Palace, Bung Karno always held a halalbihalal. The event, which was attended by all residents and employees of the Palace and their families—Mangil detailed from the gardener to the Director of the Presidential Cabinet—was held at the Merdeka Palace.

"If by chance I was shaking hands with Bung Karno, Bung Karno would always say, 'Mangil, I deeply apologize. I have made many mistakes toward you,' while holding my hand very tightly," wrote Mangil, who served as the Commander of the Presidential Personal Guard Detachment for more than two decades during Bung Karno's administration, in his book.

From Mangil's testimony, it can be seen that the halalbihalal tradition has been going on in the Palace since the era of the First President of the Republic of Indonesia. The matter of the Eid prayer held at the Jakarta Palace as written by Mangil in his book was also confirmed through the archives of the Kompas Daily published on Thursday, January 20, 1966, or 59 years ago.

How did the second President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soeharto, celebrate Eid?

During his first Eid as president in 1968, President Soeharto and Mrs. Tien Soeharto provided an opportunity for the public to extend their greetings at their residence on Jalan Cendana 8, Jakarta.

Then, the Kompas Daily noted that for the first time, President Soeharto performed the Eid prayer outside the Palace in 1970. This event was written in the news article entitled "Atjara2 Special RRI Djakarta Menjambut Idul Fitri" which was published in Kompas, Saturday, November 28, 1970. It was written in the opening paragraph of the news article that President Soeharto's speech welcoming the Eid al-Fitr holiday 1390 Hijriah would be broadcast centrally by RRI, directly from the place of the Eid prayer ceremony (Istiqlal Mosque).

The moment of a grand celebration was experienced by President Soeharto during Eid al-Fitr in 1997. At that time, precisely on February 8, 1997, President Soeharto struck a giant drum from the Great Mosque of Bantul during the event "Gema Dzikir dan Takbir" welcoming the 1st of Shawwal 1417 Hijri under the National Monument (Monas) in Jakarta.

Was there anything different when the third President of the Republic of Indonesia, BJ Habibie, celebrated Eid?

If previously gatherings were mostly held at the president's residence or the Palace, during the era of Indonesia's third President BJ Habibie, it was he who actively visited various groups during Eid al-Fitr.

One of them, referring to the news archives of Kompas, on the first day of Eid, January 19, 1999, President BJ Habibie and Mrs. Ainun Habibie visited the residence of General (ret.) Abdul Haris Nasution on Jalan Teuku Umar Number 43, Jakarta. The friendly and warm meeting between President Habibie and AH Nasution who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Yohana Nasution, lasted about 30 minutes.

"I speak as a father to his child," said AH Nasution, who also expressed his joy over the meeting with President BJ Habibie during the Eid al-Fitr moment.

Why was the Palace transformed into a people's house during Eid in the era of the 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Gus Dur?

The 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia, KH Abdurrahman Wahid alias Gus Dur, was known as a figure who was close to the people and egalitarian. This was also carried over to the Lebaran open house event held at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, when Gus Dur served his presidency from October 20, 1999 to July 23, 2001.

Kompas journalist, J Osdar, captured the people's atmosphere when the open house for Eid al-Fitr 1 Syawal 1420 Hijriah was held at the Palace during the reign of President Abdurrahman. He wrote about this when making a feature published in the Kompas Daily, Monday (10/1/1999).

In the article entitled "The Atmosphere of Ciganjur Moves to the Merdeka Palace", the statement of Alissa Qotrunnada Munawarah (Lisa), Gus Dur's eldest daughter, was quoted. "The atmosphere is indeed like when we lived in Ciganjur. But, let it be, this Palace, after all, belongs to the people. We are just waiting for it," said Lisa at that time to Kompas.

How did the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, celebrate Eid?

During the presidential term from July 23, 2001, to October 20, 2004, the fifth President of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, celebrated Eid three times and held open house events at the Palace.

On December 16, 2001, for example, President Megawati and her husband, Taufik Kiemas, attended the Eid al-Fitr 1422 Hijri prayer at the Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta. Referring to the Kompas news archive, at the end of the Eid prayer event, it was announced to the audience that in the afternoon, from 16.30-18.00, an open house would be held at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.

There was something interesting noted by Kompas reporters at the handshake moment at the Palace. This happened when Taufik Kiemas greeted his guests warmly. And, when shaking hands with reporters, Taufik said loudly, "Thank you, yes, for the criticisms that have been thrown out."

How was the Palace's open house during the era of the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono?

During his two terms in office, the 6th President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, made opening the doors of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta during Eid a regular tradition. In this event where the head of state meets his people, various unique stories emerged, ranging from requests for baby names, sharing grievances, to hoping for envelopes from the nation's number one figure.

Then, not only did SBY extend his hand to be shaken by the people, during the open house, he also budgeted some money to be distributed to some residents as an Eid "bonus". The nominal amount varies. The amount ranges from Rp 200,000, Rp 250,000, to Rp 500,000 per person.

Usually, the money wrapped in the envelope is given to people with disabilities. Therefore, there are always some residents who come to the open house event in the hope of getting the bonus. The giving is done when the event is held, both at the State Palace and SBY's private residence in Cikeas.

The seventh Indonesian President Jokowi's Eid was not always in Jakarta, so where was he?

During the tenure of Indonesia's seventh President, Joko Widodo, the Eid al-Fitr prayer was also utilized as an opportunity to meet with communities in various regions of Indonesia. As a result, the open house at the Presidential Palace was not regularly held during every Eid celebration under Jokowi's administration, especially when the Covid-19 pandemic spread.

President Jokowi is recorded as having performed Eid prayers at the Baiturrahman Mosque, Banda Aceh, Aceh Province, on July 16, 2015 and at the Grand Mosque of West Sumatra, Padang, on July 6, 2016.

The Palace's open house during Jokowi's term was only held during Eid 2017. After Eid prayers at the Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, Jokowi and Kalla held an open house at the State Palace. The following year, the opening of the door was held at the Bogor Presidential Palace. Jokowi also celebrated Eid at the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace in 2022.