Exodus

Exodus

With the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan now only a little more than a week away, the yearly exodus of millions of people leaving the capital city for their homes in the provinces is gaining momentum. In the next few days bus and train stations will be jammed with travelers and roads leading out of Jakarta will be clogged with vehicles as an unusual temporary quiet descends upon the city.

Mudik, as this tradition is popularly known, has been entrenched in our society for as long as can be remembered and neither persuasion nor calls for sobriety have been able to restrain the exodus. But unlike the relatively small crowds in the past which were within the carrying capacity of the available road and transportation facilities, today the numbers have swollen to such immense proportions that managing the annual Idul Fitri or Lebaran exodus has become almost an impossible job for the authorities.

One reason, of course, is urbanization. Another is that spending the Idul Fitri holidays with friends and family at home is still considered imperative by the vast majority of Indonesians, regardless of the stress the journey involves. Family and neighborly ties are still valued highly in Indonesian rural society and Idul Fitri offers an appropriate opportunity to renew them. For another, it offers an opportunity to display the tokens of success and justify living in the big city. Thus families packed with goods jostling to board the train or bus are a common sight during the season.

Much has been said about this particular Indonesian tradition. The more practical-minded point to the irrationality of the effort, not to mention the considerable expenses involved. Those who stick by tradition stress the importance of asking for forgiveness for wrongdoings committed during the past year. Besides, the exodus of millions of people from the big cities provides a mechanism for a fairer distribution of wealth.

Be that as it may, for the authorities and people responsible for ensuring the Idul Fitri holiday is a success, the exodus is a headache every year. For instance, steps must be taken to ensure that country roads are in good order, that enough buses and train services are available and that travelers are not duped by scalpers and unscrupulous bus operators.

And while that may sound like a routine job, in reality ensuring the smooth passage of hundreds of thousands of vehicles along country roads that are not designed to carry the burden is a task few people would envy. In the cities, station masters also shoulder a huge responsibility looking after tens of thousands of travelers on their way home.

This year, however, the problems may well exceed those of recent years. Although people are prepared for the journey, forecasts predict heavy rainstorms and flooding in the coming week along the northern coast of Java, which is the most popular route for travelers from Jakarta. To make it worse, parts of the route are reported to be in rather bad condition.

Under the circumstances it is fortunate -- for both the authorities and the travelers themselves, particularly children -- that a growing number of Indonesians realize it is better to leave for their villages a few days before or after the big day. Obstacles notwithstanding, it is hoped that Lebaran travelers this year will be able to travel safely to cap off the month-long fasting period with a proper family reunion.