Central Java Governor Sends Off Free Mudik Participants to 35 Cities and Regencies
As Eid approaches, many migrants eagerly anticipate the opportunity to return home to their hometowns. For many people, mudik is more than just a long journey; it is a moment to reunite with family, overcome homesickness, and celebrate the warmth of togetherness after months of working away from home. Returning and gathering with family becomes happiness that cannot be replaced, as well as a special blessing for those who work far from home.
The year 2026 is expected to again become a period of high population mobility. To help people travel home more safely and affordably, the government through the Ministry of Transportation, along with several regional governments, has introduced various free mudik programmes, ranging from the provision of hundreds of buses to free train services for the public.
Amid long journeys that often drain energy, maintaining good physical condition becomes important so that moments of togetherness at home can be enjoyed to the fullest. The process of travelling from home to departure points, long queues, and spending hours on the road often make the body easily fatigued. Such conditions frequently trigger common colds or reduced immune resistance.
Recognising this need, Bejo Jahe Merah for the fifth time is participating in the Free Mudik Programme organised by the Central Java Provincial Liaison Board. This year, more than 16,000 migrants will be dispatched to 35 cities and regencies in Central Java using 320 buses provided.
Andry Mahyudi, Head of OTC, Women Health and Natural Wellness Category at PT Bintang Toedjoe, stated that this participation is part of Bejo’s commitment to be present at various important moments for the Indonesian people, including during homecoming journeys.
“Eid is always synonymous with the warmth of family gatherings. Bejo Jahe Merah wants to be present at that moment by helping migrants maintain their physical condition during the journey. We do not want them to arrive home and be unable to fully enjoy time with family because of a common cold. If that happens, leave it to Bejo,” he said.
Through the campaign “Family Ties Never Break, Bejo Handles the Common Cold”, Bejo Jahe Merah supports this activity by providing 32,000 packages of Bejo Jahe Merah for mudik participants from Central Java. This support is expected to help participants maintain warm and fit physical condition during the long journey home.
At the send-off event for mudik participants at the Museum Purna Bhakti Pertiwi, TMII, Jakarta (16 March), Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi expressed his hopes that all participants would have safe journeys whilst maintaining good health.
“This programme not only helps people return home but also ensures their journeys remain comfortable. We hope all migrants can maintain their health throughout the journey. Family gatherings are a very important social value, so maintaining stamina during the mudik process is equally important,” he said.
He added that after celebrating Eid with family, migrants are expected to return to work in good health so they can resume productive activities. The free mudik programme does not stop when participants arrive at their hometowns.
The Central Java Provincial Government has also prepared a return journey programme on 27 and 28 March 2026, coordinated by district and city governments in the origin areas of where migrants work, in collaboration with various professional associations. Participants can return to their working cities for free by registering online through the provided website.
Present at the send-off event was Kendal Regent Dyah Kartika Permanasari, who expressed appreciation for the organisation of the free mudik programme, which has now been held for the fifth consecutive year.
“I greatly appreciate the cross-sector collaboration in this programme, ranging from regional governments, state-owned enterprises, regional-owned enterprises, to the private sector that supports its implementation. This programme greatly helps the public to return home safely, comfortably, and in good health. The ultimate goal is of course for them to gather with family and celebrate Eid with joy,” she said.
The mudik participants are Central Java residents working in the informal sector in Jakarta, such as traders and daily workers. They registered online through the Central Java Provincial Liaison Board so that the programme can reach people in need of mudik travel facilities more easily.
One participant, Muhammad Jaelani from Pemalang City, said he always looked forward to this programme every year. “The free mudik programme is very helpful because transportation costs usually rise ahead of Eid. With this programme, we can return home more easily. Plus this year we again have the support of Bejo Jahe Merah, so I feel more at ease if I start to feel unwell during the journey,” explained Jaelani, who works as an outsourced housekeeper at a company in South Jakarta.
Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi sent off 325 bus fleets transporting tens of thousands of migrants from Greater Jakarta to 35 cities and regencies across Central Java. Governor Ahmad Luthfi ensured that all regional heads in Central Java were ready to receive migrants returning to their hometowns. The reopening of the route was marked by the opening of road blockades by Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi on Friday, 13 March 2026.