For Muslims, the holy fasting month of Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection and renewal. At the end, after 30 days of abstinence and prayer, Muslims believe they are reborn afresh.
But in Indonesia, Ramadan offers a unique opportunity not just for spiritual rebirth but also for an image rebirth for numerous pop music and soap stars.
Television viewing peaks during the holy month, when people are looking for distractions from their hunger and they wake early for prayers and meals.
Thus during Ramadan, soap opera stars and famous singers are enlisted to entertain the fasting masses. Stars who usually sport fashionable, skimpy clothes instead wear a modest jilbab, or headscarf, and the latest in long-sleeved Muslim tunics.
On one particular afternoon, a host of stars are paraded and asked to talk for five minutes about their relationship with God, and their praying routine.
Of course, one can say that there is nothing wrong with soap stars talking about their religious practices. But in many cases, the interviews come across as soap dramas and appear to be more about improving the star's image and countering any nasty rumours, than true discussions about their religious sentiments.