Ramadan in Indonesia

By Syifa

Islam has been wide-spread religion for centuries. One of the countries with the majority of muslims is Indonesia. In islam, there is a month called Ramadan, where Muslims around the world must refrain from eating and drinking from morning before sunrise to falls at sunset for 30 days. Muslims also must refrain from doing bad habits, because this is a holy month. Instead they are encouraged to do considerable good deeds, because of the huge rewards will be given. While it may seem ordinary, Ramadan is a most awaited month. It is common for nonmuslims join to enliven the month.

Every Muslim around the world has unique habits or traditions only during Ramadan. Here, I’ll explain several traditions that make Ramadan very meaningful to its people.

1. Muslims wake up at midnight to eat and drink, preparing themselves to fast. Groups of young boys would walk around neighborhoods to awaken other Muslims.

2. ‘Ngabuburit’. This is when family, friends, co-workers, manager and staff, do some fun activity together to kill the time in the afternoon. They chat, share some stories, and get closer by sitting together. This is the warmest time for people in Ramadan, I think.

3. There will be street foods open in certain places in the city near to iftar time (around 1-2 hours before sunset). There will be considerably various foods, drinks, snacks that selled there.

4. People become very generous during Ramadan. A lot of people give food to neighbors and people can’t afford to buy food regardless of gender, religion, and social status. It is also more like we are exchanging our food to our neighbors. You could get five various serves from your neighbors.

5. At night, some kids and young people set off fireworks. In some places they light candles in front of their houses.

6. Ten days before Ramadan ends, you will find people sitting in the mosque, praying and worshipping all night. This habit happens all around the world. Muslims detach themselves from the materialistic world and dedicate all the time to get closer to God. These ten days, we can see the atmosphere is peaceful and calm. There will be one night when the sky will be slightly foggy, very comforting and soothing with no cause of high or low temperatures. The sky will be slightly lighted without reflections and without rays. That is the most beautiful night.