Thousands in Pontianak hold rain prayer amid wildfires
Held at Masjid Raya Mujahidin during a prolonged dry spell, the prayer came as haze thickened and Pontianak’s air quality worsened.
Thousands of Muslims in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, held salat istisqa in the courtyard of Masjid Raya Mujahidin on Saturday (29/8) to pray for rain amid a prolonged dry spell and forest and land fires. The worship service, held at about 07.00 WIB, drew congregants who prayed for rain to fall soon so the karhutla and its impact would ease. Several participants were seen wearing masks because of the haze covering the city. Republika reported that the prayer was also encouraged by the Pontianak city government together with MUI, DMI, Kementerian Agama and mosque administrators as an effort to respond to declining air quality.