Kampung Bugis residents welcome Ramadhan<\/p>\n
Alpha Savitri, Contributor, Serangan Island, Bali<\/p>\n
Ramadhan has arrived and everybody in Kampung Bugis, a small
\nIslamic village here, is very happy to welcome the holy fasting
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
The sound of the Koran recital through a megaphone at an old
\nAssyuhada mosque is heard in every corner of the 2.5 hectare
\nvillage, near the Benoa harbor in Denpasar, the provincial
\ncapital of the Hindu dominated island of Bali.<\/p>\n
For the 255 Moslem residents in Kampung Bugis, Ramadhan is a
\nspecial month. It is a proper time to enhance their spiritual
\nwell-being by carrying out various religious rituals. The village
\ndwellers have faithfully retained age-old Ramadhan traditions.<\/p>\n
Established around the early 17th century, Kampung Bugis is
\none of the oldest Islamic villages in Bali. The villagers are
\ndescendants of Bugis sailors who fled their homeland in South
\nSulawesi to avoid Dutch troops.<\/p>\n
They landed on Serangan island and built a residential place
\nbefore being captured by the King of Badung. Knowing that the
\nBugis were brave warriors, the King used them to fight the Mengwi
\nKingdom. With the help of the Bugis people, Badung claimed
\nvictory.<\/p>\n
The King later awarded these Bugis people with a plot of land
\ncurrently known as Kampung Bugis, which their descendants now
\nreside on.<\/p>\n
Almost cut off for centuries from the hustle and bustle of
\ntourism activities in Bali, Kampung Bugis has hardly changed at
\nall. The majority of the village's population maintains the
\ntraditions that have been kept alive for generations. An Islamic
\nmood is felt everywhere. Most women wear traditional kebaya
\ncovered by headscarves, while male members are decked out in
\nmodest sarongs.<\/p>\n
The Assyuhadda mosque, the oldest one in Bali, stands sturdy
\nas the village's landmark and a center of religious, social and
\neducational activities. During Ramadhan, people usually flock to
\nthe mosque to perform tadarusan (Koran recital) before and after
\nthe breaking of the fast. Weeks before the fasting month,
\nvillagers worked together to clean and repaint the mosque.<\/p>\n
Mothers and their daughters usually cook traditional Bugis
\ndelicacies like dokok (a sweet cake made of sticky rice, coconut
\nmilk and palm sugar wrapped in banana leaves), sarimuka (a
\nsteamed cake made of egg, sugar and sticky rice) and bingka
\n(coconut cake) and other cakes. They sell the cakes in front of
\ntheir houses. Each house usually sells different items.<\/p>\n
Haji Mansyur, an influential figure, explained that, \"It is
\nnot a pure business activity. They sell these cakes just for fun
\nand to tighten their relationship with neighbors.\"<\/p>\n
Such a scene only takes place during the fasting month. \"It is
\na sort of homesickness although many of us were born here and
\nhave never been to Makassar,\" a woman added.<\/p>\n
Ramadhan's festive mood in Kampung Bugis has long attracted
\npeople from neighboring hamlets. \"They only come here to buy food
\nand to speak with the locals. Many of them are believers of other
\nreligions. We have been living here side by side peacefully for
\nhundreds of years,\" said Haji Mansyur.<\/p>\n
Visiting the village during Ramadhan is really worthwhile,
\nsocially and spiritually.<\/p>\n
People respect each other and devote their lives to performing
\ngood deeds during the entire month.<\/p>\n
All members of the community are invited to break their fast
\nat the mosque. Food is free. Local women are eager to donate a
\nlarge variety of food and beverages as part of their contribution
\nduring the holy month.<\/p>\n
Every afternoon, girls and boys recite the Koran at the old
\nmosque, while their male elders continue the exercise after the
\nTarawih (special prayer during Ramadhan).<\/p>\n
\"Two days prior to Idul Fitri, we will read all the pages of
\nthe Koran twice and then we will hold a special thanksgiving
\nparty.\"<\/p>\n
Ramadhan and Idul Fitri are the most important days for the
\nBugis villagers. A perfect time to purify their hearts and minds
\nbefore entering better days in the future.<\/p>",
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