Indonesia celebrates Islamic New Year 1448 amid date disagreement

Across several Indonesian cities, officials and community groups marked the start of the Islamic New Year (1 Muharram 1448 H, 2026). In Binjai, the city secretary attended a large Dhikr gathering at Masjid At‑Thahirin, emphasizing communal solidarity. In Belawan, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) Regional 1 sponsored a torch‑parade involving thousands of participants, followed by a national da’i’s talk. The Bandung regency hosted a ceremony at Dome Balerame with the regent, deputy, and local religious leaders, featuring prayers, a mass prayer, and a simultaneous torch‑parade in 31 districts. In Banjarnegara, a distinctive ritual cut the hair of a child with a “gimbal” (lock of hair) as a purification rite tied to the new year.

Religious authorities highlighted a calendar discrepancy: the government and Muhammadiyah set 1 Muharram on Tuesday 16 June 2026, while the Nahdlatul Ulama’s PBNU declared Wednesday 17 June 2026 based on its own moon‑sighting observations. The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) urged Muslims not to exaggerate the difference, calling it a normal scholarly variance and encouraging unity and reflection during the new year.