A safe journey home

A safe journey home

Every year, at around the time Ramadhan comes to an end,
millions of Jakarta residents begin packing their bags to make
the annual pilgrimage to their native towns and villages.

Once there, they experience the joy of Idul Fitri, or Lebaran
(an Indonesian term meaning " to mark the end") of the month-long
fasting period prescribed by Islam, in the company of their
closest friends and family.

Unlike Idul Fitri, which is celebrated by 1.2 billion Muslims
the world over, albeit under a different, usually Arabic name,
mudik is an ancient tradition specific to the Indonesian
archipelago, which takes place in the days before.

It, too, is cherished by millions of Indonesians -- so much so
that the spectacle of unruly crowds, jostling and pushing each
other at ticketing windows for scarce seats, is a common one.

This annual exodus from the cities back to the small towns of
one's birth in the country's hinterlands is known is not without
controversy, however.

Although traditional people insist that returning home to
visit one's relatives is a must, others view it as a waste of
time, money and energy. A trip to the post office, or a simple
telephone call, they say, could do the trick.

True, the mudik tradition puts a heavy strain on the country's
deficient transportation and creaky infrastructure -- along with
the government and the private sector. In short, the tradition is
one contemporary Indonesia could do without, so say these
"modernists."

Indonesians more appreciative of convention, on the other
hand, defend this tradition as vehicle for a more equitable
distribution of wealth in a country known for a yawning chasm
between its haves and have-nots. Of course, renewing ties with
old friends and relatives is a benefit, too.

Rather than engaging in useless debates over this time-honored
tradition, common sense dictates that people, inside and outside
the transportation and travel industry, should do what they can
to ensure a safe trip for those who undertake the journey.

One reminder seems appropriate, though. Recent bombings and
threats of violence throughout the archipelago lately must serve
as a warning for everyone -- particularly law enforcement
officials assigned to look out for the travelers' safety.

Spoilsports, in other words, should not be allowed to ruin the
mood of joy that accompanies Lebaran and mudik.

We would like to wish all those fortunate enough to take part
in this year's festivities a safe journey home -- and back.