Islamic New Year Parade Boosts Odong-Odong Rentals in East Jakarta

A vehicle parade to welcome the Islamic New Year 1 Muharram 1448 Hijriah at the Al Hamid Islamic Boarding School in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Tuesday, has boosted demand for odong-odong vehicle rentals. East Jakarta Mayor Munjirin stated that the event provided multiple benefits, including economic growth, with decorated vehicles predominantly being odong-odongs.

Munjirin assessed that the activity, which involved various community elements, was able to stimulate the local economy through the utilisation of residents’ services and businesses. Beyond serving as a means of Islamic propagation and strengthening community bonds, the decorated vehicle parade had a tangible economic impact.

One sector that directly benefited was the odong-odong rental business, whose vehicles dominated the parade fleet. The vehicles used in the parade came not only from the Cipayung sub-district but also from other areas across East Jakarta. The high demand for vehicles to enliven the event provided additional income for odong-odong operators. “It was crowded, both from Cipayung District and outside, all were used. So the economy is turning,” Munjirin said.

In addition to benefiting vehicle rental providers, the activity also had a positive impact on micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM) selling goods around the event location. The large crowd of attendees provided an opportunity for traders to increase their sales turnover. According to Munjirin, religious activities involving large-scale community participation can be a way to encourage economic circulation at the local level.

Munjirin hopes that similar activities can continue to be developed and become a larger annual agenda. He also encouraged other institutions to organise creative commemorations of the Islamic New Year that involve the wider community. “I hope next year there will be other institutions planning to commemorate the Islamic New Year with similar activities, so that the benefits are felt not only from social and religious aspects, but also from the economic aspect,” Munjirin said. A total of 125 decorated vehicles took part in the annual parade, which is a routine agenda of the boarding school as a form of Islamic propagation as well as a means of strengthening ties between residents and religious institutions.