Indonesian Muslims celebrated Idul Fitri on different days, due to disputes among Muslim groups, and the government.

Muslims belonging to the Muhammadiyah organisation, the second largest group, marked the end of the fasting month on Monday the 23rd, as did Muslims belonging to the East Java branch of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). While according to the government, and the national office of the Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Muslim group, Idul Fitri day was actually on the 24th.

Ali Machsan Moesa of the East Java NU admitted that his branch was at variance with the national body but explained that a team of 15 observers stationed at the Gebang beach near Bangkalan in Madura, East Java, had caught sight of hilal, the moon, on Sunday the 22nd at 18.30. This meant that Ramadan ended the next day, according to them.

On Madura island itself it is said that some Muslims chose to follow the local NU branch’s ruling on the matter while some held fast to the national office’s opinion and kept fasting for one extra day. Even within some families there were different practises among individuals.