All-Purple Furnishings: A Survivor's Way to Brighten Eid in Agam's Temporary Shelter

All-purple furnishings have become one survivor’s effort to add festivity to Eid in a temporary shelter in Kayu Pasak, Nagari Salareh Aia, Palembayan subdistrict, Agam regency, following the flood disaster.

In the limited space of about 3x6 metres, Yeni strives to create a warmer atmosphere for herself and her children ahead of Eid. The purple colour, her favourite, was chosen to help improve her mood amid the constrained conditions.

“Previously, purple was my favourite colour; coincidentally, our place is small, so purple can cheer up the mood. So, all this was bought; it’s nice, even though the house is small, we can enjoy it, and it’s also nice that the house is neat,” said Yeni when met on Thursday.

Since occupying the temporary shelter in mid-January 2026, Yeni has planned to use purple as the main theme for the furnishings. Limited facilities meant she had to buy household items gradually, which were then matched to her chosen colour.

Ahead of Eid, she added to her collection with jars, artificial flowers, and fridge stickers purchased via e-commerce.

“For this Eid, I bought jars. Then there are flowers on top of the fridge, on the table—what I call the guest table. There’s also fridge stickers, bought by ordering (on e-commerce),” she added.

For Yeni, Eid 2026 feels heavy because the hydrometeorological disaster in November 2025 not only destroyed her home but also claimed the life of her older brother.

“If asked about the incident, it brings back memories, sad. That’s why I bought favourite-coloured furnishings to divert attention; we’re stressed, it’s like trauma healing,” said Yeni while wiping her tears.

The front part of her house was also damaged after being hit by a large piece of wood carried by the suddenly overflowing irrigation flow. Her kitchen similarly showed signs of weathering from being submerged in mud for a considerable time.

Flash floods, landslides, flooding, and tornadoes struck Agam at the end of November 2025, resulting in 165 deaths.

The highest number of victims came from Palembayan subdistrict with 136 deaths. All residents whose homes were in the red zone were prohibited from staying in their old homes and were evacuated to the nearest temporary shelters or sought refuge with relatives.