Idul Fitri: Forgiving Family & Traffic Jams

By: Jack Lato & Emma Kwee

Idul Fitri is the most important day on the Islamic calendar. Cleansed and a few pounds lighter, millions of Indonesians return home (‘pulang kampung’ Obama would say). As lemmings squeezed in overflowing economy busses they are prepared to take the final hurdle, after conquering kilometers of queues to obtain the last overpriced tickets, facing kilometers of traffic jams crisscrossing the country.

What moves Indonesians during Idul Fitri is an irrepressible urge to meet their family, particularly the parents. Shaking hands, asking for forgiveness and the blessing of their parents could theoretically be done anytime. Mobile phones could also come in handy; speaking through the phone, or texting for forgiveness shuns the caller from being ashamed. Indonesia is utterly connected by high-tech devices. Yet, during Idul Fitri the sense of love drives people to return home and physically connect with their family.

“What will you do during Lebaran?”

By: Rani Yunus

Ramadhan ends tomorrow and the upcoming Idul Fitri end-of-fasting month  — in Indonesia known as Lebaran, will last two days. The whole nation begins to prepare for this day. Baking cookies, special dishes like Ketupat, Rendang or Opor Ayam at home, or packing up bags to leave their urban homes to travel across the nation to their hometowns to celebrate with their family. Let’s see what some fellow Indonesians plan on doing during Lebaran.

Sweet potatoe and Corn Pudding

By: Erna Dyanty

Ramadhan is the month that families come together to break the  fasting. It is also during this time, recipes are shared between mothers and daughters. This year I've been fortunate to have my mother in-law share her delicious sweet potato and corn pudding recipe with me and in the spirit of Ramadhan, I will now share it with you!

Ramadhan & Idul Fitri: A Personal Journey

By: Syazana Nur

Ramadhan is not only a community binding ritual, it is also a personal journey. In this article Syazana from Malaysia shares her childhood memories about this special month.

Ramadhan Memories

Since I was a child, the coming of Ramadhan marks the most exciting time of the year. Ramadhan brings a month of fasting for Muslims all around the world. I have always enjoyed Ramadhan because I feel that this is the time where I can cleanse my body and allow my body to take a rest from all the food that I’ve consumed throughout that year.

I can still remember that when I was a child, fasting was never a problem for me. The only trouble for me would have to be the sahur. Sahur is the time right before sunrise or dawn that we are allowed to eat so as to give us enough energy to get through the day of fasting. Since I was never an early riser, sahur has always been a struggle, but as I grow up, it’s not as much trouble as it was when I was small.

Ramadhan and the sharing of love in my neighborhood

By: Jack Lato

Ramadhan comes, inspires and changes my neighborhood. Several days before the holy day, my Muslim neighbors exchanged foods and snacks with each other, “megengan.” It is a kind of sacred ritual the family offer for the deceased. The sacrifice could be made personally. But in my neighborhood, all kampung members manage megengan. All participate; preparing snacks and food, meeting in one of the appointed houses and then the congregation sits around the offerings, praying together; asking forgiveness and the blessing of late family members for the whole year to come.

Many families pay a visit to the cemetery, placing fragrant flowers over the graves, praying for the deceased. Some even visit the graves of religious and public figures like Walisanga; nine (sanga) pious leaders (wali) who played a key role in spreading Islam in Indonesia.