TIMESINDONESIA, SURABAYA – The government has enforced social distancing rule to prevent coronavirus spread around the country. The local government even close several tourist destination in their city including one Sunan Ampel Tomb in Surabaya.
Sunan Ampel is a highly respected Islamic leader who propagated the religion in Indonesia, particularly Java. His tomb today is situated in the small complex of cemetery in the west wing of Ampel Mosque which boasts of a Javanese architecture supported by 16 teak pillars.
Millions of people flock to Ampel in the north of Surabaya every year to carry out their pilgrimage at the tomb of Sunan Ampel, especially during the fasting month of Ramadan.
"We had closed the site since Wednesday (18/3/2020). But we need government assistance to inform it to the public that this place is being closed temporarily," Zeid Muhammad Yusuf, the caretaker of Sunan Ampel Mosque and Tomba said on Wednesday (25/3/20202).
Though the site was closed, several people keep forcing in to do their pilgrimages. The local management can't do anything but to let them with one condition, keep social distancing and not to stay long in the area.
Meanwhile Sunan Ampel mosque of Surabaya which located next to the tomb keep operating and used by the local community to pray when praying time comes. "We can't prevent people to do their praying in the mosque," Zeid added. (*)
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| Editor | : Khodijah Siti |
| Publisher | : Rizal Dani |
