Betawi people united in prayer

Betawi people united in prayer

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With skills and recipes passed down for generations, native
Jakartan women had been preparing various dishes and snacks since
dawn to be served at the local mosque to celebrate the sacred
27th night of Ramadhan.

"It is the night of Lailatul Qadar, when God will bless and
forgive us as well as grant our prayers. This is why we are
having a special communal prayer tonight," Sanimah, 60, told The
Jakarta Post on Wednesday afternoon.

Sanimah is one of about 3,000 ethnic Betawi who live within
the 165-hectare Betawi conservation area near Babakan Setu Lake
in Srengseng Sawah, South Jakarta, who carry on the tradition.

The area was declared in 2001 as an official cultural
conservation area by the Jakarta administration, which
transformed 100 ordinary houses into reconstructions of
traditional Betawi homes and also established a cultural center.

Inside Sanimah's Betawi house were several relatives and
neighbors who had come by to help her prepare rice, fried
chicken, fruits, salads and a traditional dish called abuk, which
is specially made for the communal prayer.

Abuk is made from pulverized black and white rice filled with
coconut and palm sugar and wrapped in banana leaves, and
represents the community's hope for God's forgiveness and
blessing, according to Sanimah.

"We are very happy to share our food with others, as we
believe that God is watching us and will give us his blessing and
forgiveness in return," she added.

The mosque was already filled with dozens of people as Sanimah
brought the food at about 6 p.m.

The dishes were placed in the center of the mosque, and all
in attendance, young and old, and male and female, gathered
around the food.

As dusk fell and turned to night, an elderly cleric began to
recite several verses of the Koran while the congregation
repeated after him. He then began the prayer, and every man,
woman and child listened, raising their hands in front of their
breasts and uttering "Amen" in unison whenever the cleric paused.

At the rear of the mosque, Saminah closed her eyes, lost in
prayer.

The prayer finished at about 9 p.m., and the congregation
divided into several groups.

Each group received a tray of rice, a chicken and salad as
well as a plate of abuk. Chatting amongst themselves, each group
ate the repast with their hands in a spirit of togetherness,
clearing the plates of all food.

"What I love most about the celebration is the moment we eat
together from the same tray. Everybody shares with each other.
Hopefully, God will bless us all. I only wish we could hold the
celebration every month. I really look forward to the celebration
next year," said Sanimah.

About 10 p.m., after all the food was gone, one by one,
everyone left the mosque.

Arriving home, Sanimah continued to recite verses of the Koran
until late at night, as she said, "I don't want to spend a minute
of this blessed night not praying."