Making calligraphy, an effective holiday pastime

Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Purwokerto

Many students have no idea how to spend their time during the Ramadhan fasting month as they also have holidays. Some go on vacation with the whole family but others just hang out with their friends.

For 10 high school students in Purwokerto, Central Java, the holidays, especially during Ramadhan, mean they can use the time to earn money.

They make calligraphy from pieces of glass and arrange them in a beautiful frame. These teenagers then sell their work from door to door at low prices.

Their calligraphic works are made in various sizes, ranging from the smallest, at 5 centimeters (cm) x 30 cm to the largest, at 30 cm x 50 cm.

"We come from a poor family. We're lucky to be able to make calligraphy. Alhamdulillah (thank God) the money can be used to buy things for Idul Fitri," said 16-year-old Suhadi. His parents are farmers whose income is unpredictable, depending on the harvest.

His work sells at Rp 3,500 (US 33 cents) to Rp 10,000.

"The Bismillah or Assalamualaikum calligraphy at 5 cm x 30 cm sells at Rp 3,500," said Suhadi, who claimed that he could earn Rp 30,000 per day.

Suhadi and his friends buy discarded pieces of glass in hardware shops. They design the calligraphy on paper before putting it on a piece of glass. Then they paint the writing with different colors before framing it. The calligraphy is ready to sell.

From each of his works, Suhadi can earn only a small profit, of Rp 2,000 to Rp 5,000.

"That's good enough. Even if nobody buys my calligraphy, I can still hang it in my bedroom."

Many villagers buy his work. "Perhaps it is due to its low price when compared with calligraphy sold at stores."

One of Suhadi customers is Nurul, a 30-year-old resident of Bojongsari village.

"I bought the calligraphy because the price was low and the workmanship was not bad either. That's why I bought two."

In the last two years, Suhadi and his friends have sold their calligraphy after the 15th day of Ramadhan.

"During the last few days of Ramadhan, many people buy our work. Maybe they want to decorate their living room with it prior to Idul Fitri," said Rohwan, Suhadi's 17-year-old friend.