Aceh Migrants Begin Returning Home for Eid Holiday under "Woe U Gampoeng" Tradition
FLOWS of public transport passengers returning from outside the region have begun to visibly crowd various districts and cities across Aceh Province over the past two days. On Tuesday (17 March), migrants generally arrived using large-bodied intercity bus services (AKAP) and mid-range minibuses.
Based on monitoring by Media Indonesia at Sigli City Type B Public Bus Terminal, Pidie District, waves of returning travellers in the “Woe U Gampong” (Returning Home) tradition occurred most frequently in the early morning hours until late morning.
These returning migrants are residents originally from the Serambi Mekah region who have been seeking their fortune as traders, private sector employees, and professionals in various provinces. The majority have migrated to Sumatran regions such as Medan, Padang, Riau, Jambi, Bengkulu, Palembang, and Lampung.
Beyond Sumatra, return migration flows from Java are also increasing, encompassing migrants from Jakarta, Tangerang, Bandung, and Surabaya. They travel overland either independently, in pairs, or bringing their entire families.
Upon arriving at the terminal, returning migrants typically do not rest for long. They immediately continue their journey to their birthplace villages using hired becak services or motorcycles. Others are met by family members who pick them up in private vehicles or motorbikes.
Interestingly, not all passengers disembark at Sigli Type B Terminal. Many returning migrants prefer to exit earlier at Type C terminals or markets along the Banda Aceh-Medan National Route, such as at Beureunuen, Caleue, and Teupin Raya. For those whose destinations pass through Sigli towards Banda Aceh, favoured exit points include Grong-Grong market and Padang Tiji.
The vitality of the Woe U Gampoeng return migration is also notably evident at several major land transport gateways in Aceh, including Langsa City Terminal, where activity is monitored as dense in the middle of the night. Beyond returning migrants from Medan, the terminal is also crowded with private sector workers and students arriving from Banda Aceh.
M. Adli Abdullah, a cultural scholar from Syiah Kuala University (USK) in Banda Aceh, notes that residents of Pidie District represent one of the largest migrant populations from Aceh scattered throughout the Indonesian archipelago and abroad.
“In the social life of Acehnese society, there is a tradition of Woe U Gampoeng when Eid arrives. This is a sacred moment for migrants,” said Adli Abdullah.
According to Adli, this tradition typically occurs in two waves: either approaching the holy month of Ramadan or approaching Eid al-Fitr. Migration during Eid in Aceh carries high values of family visitation and social concern.
Migrants return home with the primary aim of visiting parents, seeing relatives, and paying respects at family and teacher graves. However, beyond this, there is a significant economic aspect that helps rural communities.
“The religious and social brotherhood values are very high. Not only do migrants share joy, but they also provide financial assistance, such as donating money to purchase meat for Meugang and helping meet the Eid needs of family members left behind,” Adli concluded.