Indonesian Muslims to celebrate Aidiladha on two different dates

Muslims in Indonesia will celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha on two different dates - Sept 23 and Sept 24.

The date Sept 24, corresponds with the 10th of Zulhijjah, 1436H (Muslim calendar), that was set by the government, while the date Sept 23 was set by an influential religious organisation known as Muhammadiyah.

The director-general of the Islamic Society of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Machasin in a statement via a live broadcast on local television stations said, setting the date of 10th of Zulhijjah 1436AH was done via 'rukyah' (moon sighting) and calculation.

"Not a single moon sighter from Aceh to Papua saw the new moon. So, the government has set 1st Zulhijjah 1436H would fall on Tuesday, Sept 15, 2015," he said.

He said the government could however, not prevent some Muslims in the country who had set the 10th Zulhijjah to be on Sept 23, a day earlier, as they have determined today to be the 1st of Zulhijjah.

He said people should respect each others decision in determining Aidiladha.