Celebrating Eid al-Fitr 1447 H, Thousands of East Java Residents Flock to the Riyayan Tradition at Grahadi
A warm, familial atmosphere enveloped the Grahadi State Building in Surabaya on the first day of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah, Saturday (21/3). Thousands of people from various regions appeared enthusiastic about participating in the riyayan tradition with East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa and Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak.
From the morning, residents of all ages had been queuing to exchange greetings and shake hands directly with their leaders.
Governor Khofifah was accompanied by her son, Jalaluddin Mannagalli, while Deputy Governor Emil Dardak was joined by the Chair of the East Java TP PKK, Arumi Bachsin.
For Khofifah, this tradition is more than a mere ceremony; it is an effort to build emotional closeness between the government and the people.
“Alhamdulillah, we have reached Eid al-Fitr. The day of victory, the day of returning to our true nature. And because this is like a new page, I want to exchange apologies directly with the community so that in the future we can be more forgiving before resuming our duties. At the same time, this is an opportunity to bring the residents closer to their leaders,” said Governor Khofifah.
She also emphasised the importance of maintaining solidarity amid uncertain global geopolitical situations.
According to her, harmony at the local level can serve as a buffer against the impacts of crises occurring in the international arena.
“Of course, we hope that the wars can be stopped, because the effects are not only on fuel but also other domino effects. What we can do now are small familial things to mitigate the impacts,” she explained.
Not only offering the warmth of greetings, the Grahadi grounds were also transformed into a people’s festival. The East Java Provincial Government involved street vendors (PKL) to provide free dishes such as chicken soto, meatballs, and fried rice for the attendees.
Governor Khofifah affirmed that involving PKL is part of empowering the community’s economy. In addition to meals on site, every resident also took home sembako packages containing 2 kg of rice, biscuits, and instant noodles as a form of social care.
“Those who come here are people from various backgrounds. And this is our effort to accompany their Eid celebrations. The hope is that they can continue to enjoy it after taking provisions from here,” said Khofifah.
High enthusiasm was evident on the faces of the visitors. Siti Aminah, a Surabaya resident who attends every year, said she was greatly helped by this event. Ahmad Fajar, an online motorcycle taxi driver who brought his family for the first time to Grahadi, felt the same.
“I’m very happy, Alhamdulillah, meeting Mrs Governor. I got sembako for household needs. My children also received Eid bonuses. I hope Mrs Governor stays healthy always,” Fajar expressed.
Closing the event, Khofifah hoped that the spirit of mutual cooperation and togetherness could continue to be maintained in East Java.
“Happy Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah, please forgive my physical and spiritual shortcomings. May this togetherness bring blessings to us all,” she concluded.