JAKARTA \u2014 Cemetery visitation has returned as a key activity for many\nfamilies in Jakarta ahead of Eid al-Fitr. For many visitors, scattered\nflowers remain an inseparable complement to the ritual of praying for\ndeceased family members.<\/p>\n
Abi, 45, a private sector employee from West Jakarta, said he almost\nalways makes time to visit his parents\u2019 graves each Eid season. In his\nhands were a bag of scattered flowers and a bottle of rose water freshly\npurchased from vendors at the entrance to Karet Pasar Baru Barat Public\nCemetery (TPU) in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year we almost always visit the graves before Eid. Usually two\nor three days before the holiday,\u201d Abi said when met at the site on\nMonday, 16 March 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsually we come, clean the grave, then pray and scatter flowers. It\nfeels more peaceful after visiting,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Abi admitted he almost always buys scattered flowers from vendors\naround the cemetery because it is more convenient. \u201cWhen going to the\ncemetery, we usually buy flowers here. Besides being practical, it also\nhelps the vendors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Similar sentiments were expressed by Vitra, 36, a housewife from\nCentral Jakarta who came with her family to visit her grandfather\u2019s\ngrave. She was carrying two bags of scattered flowers purchased from\nvendors near the cemetery entrance.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsually before Eid, we come as a family to grandfather\u2019s grave to\npray and scatter flowers,\u201d Vitra said. According to her, bringing\nscattered flowers when visiting graves has become a habit passed down\nfrom her parents.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have always done this. When visiting, we bring flowers. Although\nnowadays some people only pray, we still bring flowers because it has\nbecome our custom,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the flower vendors here also help. So visitors who come can\nbuy directly without the trouble of bringing flowers from home,\u201d she\nadded.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Yamin, 52, an entrepreneur from Central Jakarta, said\nscattered flowers have become synonymous with the atmosphere of cemetery\nvisits.<\/p>\n
\u201cI usually just buy flowers here. It is more convenient because they\nare available right at the entrance,\u201d Yamin said. According to him, the\nflower vendors selling around the cemetery have also become part of the\nvisitation tradition.<\/p>\n
\u201cCemetery visits feel synonymous with scattered flowers. So the\nflower vendors around the graves have become part of the tradition as\nwell,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Yamin also noted that the number of visitors typically increases\nahead of Eid, so flower vendors around the cemetery appear busier than\non ordinary days.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt usually gets busier before Eid. There are also more flower\nvendors. But I think it is only natural because many people come to\nvisit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt also helps them earn a living, especially when it is busy like\nbefore Eid,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Beneath the shade of trees at the entrance to Karet Pasar Baru Barat\nPublic Cemetery, several flower vendors were arranging their merchandise\non simple carts. Dozens of glass bottles containing rose water were\nneatly arranged on tables. Beside them, plastic bags containing a\nmixture of red, white, and yellow flower petals were hung from cart\npoles for easy access to buyers.<\/p>\n
According to Kompas.com\u2019s observations at the location, vendors began\nopening their stalls from early morning to serve visitors coming to the\ncemetery.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/scattered-flowers-and-rose-water-inseparable-elements-of-eid-cemetery-visits-1773766399", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }