Jakarta (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono offered Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice) prayers at the Istiqlal Mosque here Wednesday.
The President, in a white shirt and black coat, and the First Lady wearing white Muslim attire, arrived at the grand mosque at 06.55 am local time. Vice President Boediono was absent as he was abroad making state visits to Japan and South Korea.
A few members of the Second United Indonesia Cabinet and foreign ambassadors were also seen at the Idul Adha service in Southeast Asia`s largest mosque which started at 7.00 am local time.
The sermon, themed "The Spirit of the Hajj and Day of Sacrifice Unite Nations", was delivered by Professor Halida from Makassar-based Hasanuddin University.
Security at the Istiqlal Mosque was tight with all people intending to attend the Idul Adha prayer service having to go through metal detector screening because of the President`s presence.
The Istiqlal Mosque management had earlier received a number of sacrifical cows donated by President Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono. The cattle would be slaughtered starting Wednesday and the resultant meat would be distributed to needy people.
The mosque`s management had previously distributed 5,000 vouchers to the prospective recipients of one kilogram of meat,
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