Idul Fitri exodus more than tradition

Idul Fitri exodus more than tradition

Leo Wahyudi S, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Spiritual festivities like Idul Fitri are always long-awaited
for a number of reasons.

For millions of migrants, this is the time to go home. For the
past year many have worked day and night and Idul Fitri is the
perfect time to celebrate their achievements with their family
and friends in their hometowns.

In this country with the biggest Muslim population in the
world, the Idul Fitri exodus is a decades-old tradition, along
with urbanization.

At least 1.1 million people left Jakarta for their hometowns
for Idul Fitri.

At the Senen railway station, Central Jakarta, a woman in her
40s sits alone on the ground, holding the jail bar-like gate at
the station. Her eyes scan passers by. She must be waiting for
someone special. Indeed, she was waiting for her daughters.

Katmi, the woman, has been working as a shop attendant for 10
years at Modern Land, an elite housing estate in Tangerang. Two
of her four daughters worked as housemaids at Lippo Karawaci
Apartments, also in Tangerang. Both of the girls, one aged in her
20s and the other 17, started working after graduating from
junior high school.

Katmi's two other daughters live in her hometown of
Bojonegoro, East Java, with her parents. Her husband left her a
long time ago.

The three of them had made an appointment to leave Jakarta
together for a family reunion over Idul Fitri.

Believing in God's might and blessings, Katmi said her family
would survive, despite a bitter experience two years ago when she
lost Rp 2 million after being cheated by a maid recruitment
agency in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, who promised to send her
abroad.

Not far from Katmi, a man in his 30s, who had been in the
station since 9 a.m., is waiting for a train departing at 4 p.m.

Matari, a traditional farmer from Weleri, Central Java, said:
"I came here to pick up my daughter. She wants to go home after
working as a housemaid here in Cipinang Muara for seven months."

Marlina, the daughter, is only 13. She had to stop her
elementary education to work in Jakarta in order to support her
family.

Her father reluctantly said he told her to work to support her
two younger siblings at her village since her father was just a
poor farmer who worked in another man's rice field.

Meanwhile, Suhada, a food vendor in Bogor was longing to see
his two children in his village in Lamongan, East Java, whom he
had not seen for a year.

"I risk my life here for the sake of my children. I left my
two children at the village with my relatives and now it is time
for me to give what I have worked for," said Suhada, adding that
he brought Rp 3 million in cash with him.

On the other hand, Yitno, was going home to see his parents in
Cepu, Central Java.

"I just want to see my parents to make them happy. I feel
delighted if I can give something to them," he said.

He had worked in a noodle factory in Tangerang for two years
with a monthly salary of Rp 400,000. Even though it was hard for
him to survive on such meager wages, he still managed to save a
little for his parents.

When asked what he would give his parents for Idul Fitri, he
said humbly, "I had saved Rp 300,000 for them. I believe they
will be joyful with my gift because that is all I can give".

Ronal, who has been a taxi driver for six years in Jakarta,
was returning home to prove to his parents that he is a devoted
son.

The father of two young children said that he must make the
annual journey home for Idul Fitri in order to show his parents
his love.

"During the festivities, they always comment that children who
do not visit their parents do not have any respect for them."

His parents will not tolerate any excuses from any of their
children who miss returning home, and therefore Ronal feels the
obligation to see them regardless of the stressful exodus.

Living in a large city invokes a sort of temporary and
mechanical interaction among its individualist people. They may
have superficial socializations but the fake congeniality lessens
human attachments.

They are in search of more affectionate relationships, which
is only found in simple family bonds. And, the very chance to
show this is on the traditional yet spiritual ceremony that is
Idul Fitri.