REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla opened a clean-up operation in 1,001 mosques in a bid to welcome the holy month of Ramadan.

"Islam teaches that cleanliness is part of the faith. As a mosque serves as a place of worship and becomes the center of Islamic activities, we should continue to maintain its cleanliness," Kalla, who is also chairman of the Indonesian Mosque Council, stated at the auditorium of the Sunda Kelapa Mosque here on Wednesday.

He remarked that the activity, facilitated by PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk, was part of the efforts to educate mosque officers to maintain the cleanliness of these places of worship.

It is also part of the mosque reforms, both in terms of cleanliness and management. 

The clean-up operation is being carried out in 33 districts and cities in 11 provinces from Apr 21 to May 23.

Head of Social Affairs and Humanity of the Indonesian Mosque Council Andi Mappaganty noted that the mosque is a center of worship and a place where Muslims disseminate information everyday.

Spiritual activities will increase during Ramadan, and the number of worshipers thronging the mosque will also rise. Hence, the participation of communities is necessary to make the mosque more clean and comfortable for worshippers.

"A clean and comfortable mosque can support the devout to worship more solemnly," he stated.

During the clean-up activity, PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk distributed equipment and products to the communities to maintain hygiene, so that they are able to maintain the cleanliness of mukena, or head-to-toe prayer gowns, and prayer mats, among others. 

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