Ramadhan welcomed amid monetary crisis

Ramadhan began at the most inopportune time. Escalating prices have dampened the joy that normally comes with the arrival of Ramadhan. The Jakarta Post reporters -- Lukman Natanegara, K. Basrie, Primastuti Handayani, Sugianto Tandra, Johannes Simbolon, Ida Indawati Khouw, Yogita Tahil Ramani, Sylvia Gratia and IGGP Bayu Ismoyo -- look at how people are spending Ramadhan in this time of crisis. Related stories are on Page 11.

JAKARTA (JP): Marhaban yaa Ramadhan... Welcome Ramadhan. The ritual month of fasting arrived on Dec. 31. Once again, Moslems greet the holy month with joy.

Ramadhan means a full month of fasting and praying, without reducing one's routine activities. It means helping others and donating part, a small part, of our wealth to the less-fortunate.

Moslems fast from dawn to dusk throughout the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, abstaining from drinking, smoking and sexual relations, to purify the body and soul.

Every year, aside from the usual norms, Ramadhan usually takes on a new meaning for Indonesian Moslems.

But this year, Ramadhan will be different for Indonesians because the country is facing its worst economic crisis in 30 years, and by the look of things, the downturn is likely to continue this year.

State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said many people are experiencing a different Ramadhan this year.

He empathized with workers who have been laid off by companies affected by the crisis, or those who have found it harder to find jobs because of the economic slowdown.

"Just imagine. You've been fired, Idul Fitri is drawing closer, you want to return to your hometown (mudik). How do you do it? Won't you get mad?" he said. "I'm sad to see this."

Sarwono said it would be hard to see the unemployed, especially those who have been laid off recently, practicing traditions such as taking money to their home villages the way they used to during the economic boom years of the past decade.

The minister noted that the government has decided to set up labor-intensive projects and crash programs in big cities which should bring employment for some of these people.

One of the most visible projects currently conducted in Jakarta is the Rp 300 billion (US$58.8 million) canal-dredging public works project, he said.

"Another thing that saddens me is when I see their faces almost spellbound by the economic crisis.

"Most of them don't know who or what has caused all this misery. They are innocent, yet they have to bear the brunt," Sarwono said, expressing his grief.

Prices

The economic downturn, while hard on the poor, has affected virtually every one. Many families in Jakarta said they had cut back on spending for food.

Traditionally, Ramadhan is also a time for people to express their joy by spending a little more than usual on food, usually on sweet items and snacks. But with the way prices have been rising these past few weeks, many families are economizing.

Widuri Sukandar, a housewife in East Jakarta, complained that the price hikes have meant fewer items on the dinner table compared to last year.

"Usually I cook two kind of snacks to break our fast, such as kolak (bananas stewed with palm sugar in coconut milk) or dawet (a drink of rice flour cut up and mixed with palm sugar and coconut milk), and fried bananas or croquettes. But now I only cook one thing to break our fast because we need the money for Lebaran," she said.

Caterer Sri Sujati, said rising costs have forced her to increase the price of her menu items.

"Usually I sell my snacks for Rp 400 a piece, but the higher prices are forcing me to sell them for Rp 500 each. I'm not really sure if many people will buy the snacks if the price is too high," she said.

Waginem, a street vendor, said she too is under pressure to raise her prices to make ends meet, but feared that fewer people will buy her goods.

"Sometimes, the housewives, especially those who rarely go to the market, don't know that the prices have increased and they insist on paying the old prices," she said.

The crisis may have dampened the usual festive mood of Ramadhan, but the religious spirit of fasting remains, or so it should, said A. Mustofa Bisri, a leading Moslem scholar.

The main factor in fasting is the intention. People must fast just in the name of Allah, and not for other purposes, Mustofa said.

Otherwise, fasting will be simply a diet program, devoid of any religious values.

"If you fast to shed a few kilograms, you will lose a few kilograms. If you fast to impress your friends, you will impress your friends. And if fast in the name of Allah, you will be rewarded accordingly," Mustofa said.