Islamic New Year Description
Tahun Baru Islam marks the first day of Muharram, the opening month of the Islamic Hijri calendar, commemorating Prophet Muhammad's migration (hijrah) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. Muslims attend special evening prayers and religious lectures at mosques, reflecting on the spiritual significance of the hijrah as a journey of faith, sacrifice, and community building. In cities like Yogyakarta and Surakarta, traditional parades and processions (kirab) are held, sometimes with gamelan music and keris (traditional daggers). Government offices, banks, and most businesses close. Many communities hold joint prayer sessions and religious study circles to mark the new year.
