Due to the Blazing War, Indonesian Citizens Cancel Eid Homecoming

Due to the Blazing War, Indonesian Citizens Cancel Eid Homecoming

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - History records that Indonesian citizens were once unable to return home for Eid because of the war raging in the early days of independence. One such instance occurred during Eid al-Fitr on 28 August 1946. At that time, the tradition of returning to one’s hometown was already beginning to develop, but armed conflicts forced many people to cancel their journeys.

Indonesia had only been independent for a year, but the political and security conditions were still highly unstable. The Dutch and British still controlled several strategic cities in Java. In various regions, armed clashes between Republic fighters and NICA troops continued to occur, even coinciding with the Eid al-Fitr festivities.

The Kedaulatan Rakyat newspaper edition of 30 August 1946 reported that in Yogyakarta, dozens of Dutch troops entered from the port a few days before Eid. The presence of these troops caused concern among the residents. Public mobility was disrupted because many people feared battles would break out in their surroundings.

A similar situation occurred in other areas. The Antara news agency on 30 August 1946 reported that on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, a battle took place between Dutch troops and the people in Bogor. This clash disrupted community activities, including journeys back to hometowns. Under such conditions, many residents ultimately could not return home and celebrate Eid freely.

The war’s tensions also affected religious observances. In Jakarta in 1948, for example, the Eid prayer was once dispersed by Dutch troops due to the heated security situation. At that time, the Eid prayer was planned to be held on Jalan Pegangsaan Timur No. 56, the site of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence. Dutch troops asked Muslims to move the prayer to the wider Gambir Field.

However, on the day of the event, thousands of residents still arrived. In his book Sekitar Perang Kemerdekaan Indonesia: Pemberontakan PKI 1948 (1977), A.H. Nasution wrote that Dutch police searched some individuals, but this action could not be continued due to the large number of people present.

These events demonstrate that the annual Eid homecoming tradition, now a cherished custom, did not always proceed smoothly. During the independence war, conflicts and security situations often forced citizens to celebrate the holiday under severe limitations.