Guardians of the Journey Home
The success of Operation Ketupat is not measured solely by the smooth flow of traffic or the absence of congestion. The most important measure is how many people manage to return home safely and reunite with their families.
Mataram – Eid always brings the same story each year in Indonesia: the journey home.
On main roads, at ferry terminals, and in residential alleyways gradually emptying as residents head to their hometowns, the atmosphere transforms. Vehicle traffic increases, terminals and ports become busier, and security personnel work with greater intensity than on ordinary days.
In West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB), this story returns again for Eid 2026. Operation Ketupat Rinjani began on 13 March and runs for two weeks.
The NTB Regional Police have deployed 1,649 personnel to secure the outbound and return flow for Idul Fitri 1447 Hijriah. This operation does not stand alone. It involves various components, ranging from the Armed Forces, the National Search and Rescue Agency, the Regional Disaster Management Agency, to the Department of Transportation.
Calculated overall, nearly 2,000 combined personnel are involved in the security operation. Throughout the NTB region, 35 posts have been prepared, consisting of 18 security posts, 10 service posts, and seven integrated posts. These posts are positioned at strategic locations such as ports, terminals, residential areas, and traffic routes heavily travelled by those heading home.
However, behind these figures, Operation Ketupat is not merely routine annual business. It is a mirror of how the state takes care of one of Indonesia’s largest social traditions: the homecoming journey.
Island-based journeys
The homecoming experience in NTB has a different character compared to large mainland areas such as Java. This province comprises major islands such as Lombok and Sumbawa connected by sea routes. This means ports become crucial points for population movement.
Lembar Port in West Lombok and Kayangan Port in East Lombok, for instance, almost always become important hubs for community mobility as Eid approaches.
From these locations, the flow of vehicles and passengers moves towards Bali or Sumbawa. When the season for heading home arrives, pressure on these two ports increases sharply.