Solar eclipse festivities begin in regions

JAKARTA. In West Sumatra, at least 30 foreign tourists arrived on Sunday on the Mentawai Islands to observe the solar eclipse. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that recently struck the island did not deter them, as all were enthusiastic about seeing it.

Swiss citizen Carlos Munoz said that he had intentionally planned to visit Mentawai to observe the eclipse, but would also be surfing.

“This is my third visit to the islands, but this one is special because this one coincides with the solar eclipse,” said Munoz, who also went to France in 1996 and Turkey in 2006 to watch total solar eclipses.

As the solar eclipse will fall on the same day as the Hindu Day of Silence, known locally as Nyepi, Parisada Hindu Dharma Bali head, I Gusti Ngurah Sudana, said that they would let Muslim residents in Bali hold an eclipse prayer.

“After a meeting with several relevant parties, we will give permission to anyone who wants to perform an eclipse prayer during Nyepi. They can go to the nearest mosque, but they’re not allowed to use vehicles or loud speakers during the prayer,” he told kompas.com.

Meanwhile in Sukoharjo, the Modern Boarding School of Islam Assalaam will provide 2,300 pairs of glasses for those who want to observe the eclipse from the school’s observatory.