Where should I begin this story? I found many things during my journey from Bandung to Karawang to celebrate Eid in my grandma’s house and I am thinking about the story that I would like to post in my Blog, and you know what, I found this 10 things that I will never forget about Eid in every year!
1. Mudik
Like most of people in Indonesia always do when Eid is coming, we (me & my family) are going to Mudik. Mudik is a term that we used to say doing activity or mobilization through one city to another city usually from city to village where people who worked in city came from. People who doing Mudik usually using car, bus, train, ferry, or plane as their transportation. This activity makes Eid in Indonesia is different with other Muslim country in the world. You can imagine that there are more than 15 million of people do Mudik in order to celebrate Eid in their hometown in Java and Sumatera. Unfortunately, these numbers are increasing every year which may lead to the high number of urbanization from village to city and makes possible of increasing number of unemployment and other social problems that could rise from this activity.
2. The Worst Traffic Ever!
You will have no idea, what it could be if there are15 million of people are doing Mudik during a week before and a week after Eid doing this activity at the same time. The answer is traffic. I am very grateful to God that we were doing Mudik to the opposite direction with other people. Mostly people doing Mudik heading to central and east Java which some of them are heading to Sumatera, Kalimantan, and other island too but we are heading to Karawang, a city next to Jakarta (about 20 KM away). When we are going back to Bandung 2 days after Eid, we saw the traffic heading to Jakarta in the highway with almost 10 KM queue in front of the gate of highway! That was my first experience seeing the longest queue in the highway. But, I have no doubt that the queue is more than 10 KM considering that public holiday for Eid is almost over. (This is just a small part of Mudik routes, there are many routes in different places with different long of traffic).
3. New Clothes
Since, Eid is identical with new things begin from our heart after a month of fasting in Ramadhan, people is always associated it with all things must new! Start from hair, get some new hair cut, buy some clothes, shoes, sandals, pants, skirt, and etc. I have been thinking of this phenomenon and questions appear in my head; what the urges? What does it for? … Actually, I was not fair if I said that there is no goodness behind this phenomenon because everyone is in Joy celebrating Eid. Moreover, it is become their rights to spend their money. I don’t have to questioning this. But what makes me concerned about this is there are still many people who live behind poverty line which most of them cannot buy new shoes, pants, or cloths even for a food! So, I’ve been thinking of it.
4. Money
Money! Who doesn’t love money? Since I know fasting in Ramadhan when I was a child, my parents promise me money if I completing fasting in a month. That was motivated. Now, this becomes a tradition that many child will wait for. Okay, it’s only for child! You know, since I no longer categorized as a child, money is getting away in every Eid, hahaha…
5. Ketupat
This food is always being a part of Eid. I never saw a house without Ketupat in Eid. I dare you to find it. Ketupat made from rice and cooked in the boiled water for almost 3-4 hours. Ketupat sometimes served with Semur daging, Rendang daging, Opor Ayam, Kentang, and Bihun.
6. Cakes
Cake is like Ketupat always be present in every house when Eid is coming. Putri Salju, Nastar, Kue Keju, Kue Kacang, and etc. are my favorite and I can eat all of these cakes alone, hahaha…
7. Bakso (meat ball)
Do not asking me why Bakso is in my list that I will never forget about Eid! Because when I visited my uncle house there are Bakso in there. This kind of food that made from meat is serving in a bowl with noodle, ketchup, and sauce, very delicious.no wonder that people are looking for Bakso anytime. When I visited my aunt, I found Bakso again and I found it again when I visited my friends house in another area far from my grandma house. The conclusion is Bakso is in everywhere! I think that Bakso seller (Tukang Bakso) is trying to invade human at that time. hahaha…
8. SMS
A night before Eid is coming I received many message from my friends telling and greeting for celebration of Eid, asking for forgiveness and wishing for happiness. So do I, sending messages to my friends asking for forgiveness, wishing for happiness and greeting for celebration of Eid. Eid is the right time for us to say hi, and share our happiness. But today, this way is replaced by facebook ot twitter. People are preferred to use internet because cheaper and more effective. But I hope, sending a message is still be a part of tradition in Eid.
9. Ziarah Kubur
Ziarah Kubur is activity usually do by people to the grave. For Moslem, this kind activity is to remind us about the death. People must believe that the death will come to anyone, anytime, and anywhere. They, who believe it, will always remember God Almighty. I think this is good to keep human to act rightly and think rightly. It is because we live in this world only for a while.
10. F.A.M.I.L.Y
The last but not the least, and the important thing about Eid is about Family. I do really like the situation at that time, people are crying asking for forgiveness to others. But the touchable time is when a son asking for forgiveness to their parents asking for forgiveness that he did in the past to them. You will never know when the death is coming and taking them to the heaven. Before that time is coming, it is better for us to take care of them and give our best. I will have a deep regret on it if I never asking forgiveness to them. My beloved brother and sisters are the important thing after my parents that I must give love and care. You know, I found the abbreviation of FAMILY, hahaha… it is Father And Mother I Love You !!
These are 10 things that I will never forget about Eid in every year. I am sure that you have your story about Eid. Keep these things still in your mind and let see in the next 10 years if there any changes in Eid traditions.
its cute to have the Bakso on the list. really is