Making calligraphy, an effective holiday pastime<\/p>\n
Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Purwokerto<\/p>\n
Many students have no idea how to spend their time during the
\nRamadhan fasting month as they also have holidays. Some go on
\nvacation with the whole family but others just hang out with
\ntheir friends.<\/p>\n
For 10 high school students in Purwokerto, Central Java, the
\nholidays, especially during Ramadhan, mean they can use the time
\nto earn money.<\/p>\n
They make calligraphy from pieces of glass and arrange them in
\na beautiful frame. These teenagers then sell their work from door
\nto door at low prices.<\/p>\n
Their calligraphic works are made in various sizes, ranging
\nfrom the smallest, at 5 centimeters (cm) x 30 cm to the largest,
\nat 30 cm x 50 cm.<\/p>\n
\"We come from a poor family. We're lucky to be able to make
\ncalligraphy. Alhamdulillah (thank God) the money can be used to
\nbuy things for Idul Fitri,\" said 16-year-old Suhadi. His parents
\nare farmers whose income is unpredictable, depending on the
\nharvest.<\/p>\n
His work sells at Rp 3,500 (US 33 cents) to Rp 10,000.<\/p>\n
\"The Bismillah or Assalamualaikum calligraphy at 5 cm x 30 cm
\nsells at Rp 3,500,\" said Suhadi, who claimed that he could earn
\nRp 30,000 per day.<\/p>\n
Suhadi and his friends buy discarded pieces of glass in
\nhardware shops. They design the calligraphy on paper before
\nputting it on a piece of glass. Then they paint the writing with
\ndifferent colors before framing it. The calligraphy is ready to
\nsell.<\/p>\n
From each of his works, Suhadi can earn only a small profit,
\nof Rp 2,000 to Rp 5,000.<\/p>\n
\"That's good enough. Even if nobody buys my calligraphy, I can
\nstill hang it in my bedroom.\"<\/p>\n
Many villagers buy his work. \"Perhaps it is due to its low
\nprice when compared with calligraphy sold at stores.\"<\/p>\n
One of Suhadi customers is Nurul, a 30-year-old resident of
\nBojongsari village.<\/p>\n
\"I bought the calligraphy because the price was low and the
\nworkmanship was not bad either. That's why I bought two.\"<\/p>\n
In the last two years, Suhadi and his friends have sold their
\ncalligraphy after the 15th day of Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
\"During the last few days of Ramadhan, many people buy our
\nwork. Maybe they want to decorate their living room with it prior
\nto Idul Fitri,\" said Rohwan, Suhadi's 17-year-old friend.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/making-calligraphy-an-effective-holiday-pastime-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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