Qurbani at the Foot of Mount Merbabu Symbolizes Interfaith Togetherness

SEMARANG DISTRICT, CENTRAL JAVA — The cool air, despite the piercing sunlight, did not make the atmosphere of slaughtering sacrificial animals at the foot of Mount Merbabu so fierce.

As a Muslim in Nglelo Hamlet, Batur Village, Getasan Subdistrict, Semarang Regency, Mr. Kuswanto (65) was very grateful for the implementation of THK (Tebar Hewan Kurban) 2024 Dompet Dhuafa in his village which is at the foot of Mount Merbabu with an altitude of around 1,800 MDPL.

The only Muslim house of worship in top Batur Village, the Asur Mosque (right), is also a symbol of tolerance and togetherness side by side with the Church (left), a Christian house of worship.
Mr. Kuswanto was grateful that there were qurbani animals in Batur Village.

“We (the people of Batur Village) here live very side by side with our Christian brothers and sisters. We respect, love and share with each other,” said the vegetable and tobacco farmer.

“This is about our togetherness in everyday life. Of course, we also share the qurbani meat with our Christian brothers and sisters here,” said Kuswanto again.

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The THK Central Java team reconfirmed the data of the sacrificers and sacrificial animals before the slaughter in Batur Village took place.
The slaughtering of 92 THK 2024 Dompet Dhuafa sacrificial animals in Batur Village on the first Tasyrik day, Tuesday (18/06/2024).
Residents flocked to queue and deliver qurbani animals to 21 hamlets in Batur Village.

Not far from the slaughterhouse is a waqf mosque, which is the only mosque in Batur Village. Newly built in 2019, Asur Mosque stands in front of a church. The view of the vegetable garden from top to bottom is beautiful, a typical view of the cool and peaceful mountains there.

“Alhamdulillah, there is a waqf mosque built here. The Asur Mosque is also ‘calling’ a lot of goodness and blessings for all the people of this village,” Kuswanto explained.

The slaughtering of THK 2024 Dompet Dhuafa’s sacrificial animals in Batur Village on the first Tasyrik day, Tuesday (18/06/2024).

The THK Central Java team again confirmed the flock of doka (sheep/goat) sacrificial animals before the slaughter took place. People from dozens of hamlets lined up their pick-up trucks to transport the sacrificial animals.

On Tuesday (6/18/2024), the takbir was still solemnly reverberating. Exactly at 09.00 WIB, the THK Central Java Team held the slaughter of sacrificial animals on the first day of tasyrik.

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The smile of Diko, a tobacco farmer, was happy to receive Dompet Dhuafa’s THK 2024 qurbani meat on the first Tasyrik day, Tuesday (18/06/2024).
Sudimin, a cabbage farmer, was happy to receive THK 2024 Dompet Dhuafa’s qurbani meat on the first Tasyrik day, Tuesday (18/06/2024).
Kuswanto, a tobacco farmer, was happy to receive Dompet Dhuafa’s THK 2024 qurbani meat on the first Tasyrik day, Tuesday (18/06/2024).

Next to the corn field, 92 sacrificial animals that had been slaughtered were skinned, cut and chopped. The meat was immediately distributed to the people of Batur Village who were eagerly waiting for the qurbani meat.

“We slaughtered 92 doka in Batur Village, Getasan, to be distributed to 920 beneficiary families in 21 villages. Hopefully, the donors’ qurbani mandate will always be conveyed and make the top residents in this village happy,” said Irfan, THK 2024 Central Java Coordinator. (Dompet Dhuafa)

Text and photo: Dhika Prabowo
Editor: Dedi Fadlil