The Story of a Worker Who Cannot Take Eid Leave, Longing for Hometown and Parents' Graves
JAKARTA — The sound of takbir (Islamic proclamations) resonating on the eve of Eid al-Fitr often stirs the hearts of many who hear it.
Amidst the takbir echoing throughout the night, most Muslim communities busy themselves with various preparations, including tidying their homes, cooking large quantities of food, preparing clothes for Eid prayers, and preparing essentials for the homecoming journey on Eid day.
However, the hustle and bustle of preparing for Eid celebrations with family is often not experienced by workers who never receive holiday leave.
On the night of takbir, they must instead rest to prepare their energy, as they have to work throughout the entire Eid day.
They can only watch helplessly as most people leave Jakarta in droves to return to their hometowns.
This is a situation that Hani (25), a migrant from Riau who chose to work as a journalist in Jakarta, is experiencing for the first time.
In fact, this is the second year she is celebrating Eid al-Fitr in Jakarta.
However, last year both her parents came to the capital, so Hani was still able to celebrate Eid with family, albeit in a foreign land.
But this year, she has been forced to celebrate Eid in Jakarta alone and far from family, as she has not yet received an extended leave allocation.
Besides limited holiday entitlement, expensive travel costs are also a consideration for not returning to Riau this year.
“In 2023, there were still tickets available below 1 million rupiah approaching Eid. But now they’re above 1 million rupiah,” Hani said when interviewed by Kompas.com on Wednesday (11 March 2026).
Hani admitted she had actually planned to return to Riau since the beginning of Ramadhan.
However, due to an urgent matter that could not be postponed, she had to abandon her plans to go home.
Fortunately, both her parents understand her daughter’s situation and inability to return for Eid this year.
Hani acknowledges that being unable to take leave during Eid has become an occupational hazard of her work as a journalist.
She cannot blame the profession she has chosen.
However, the longing for her hometown continues to weigh heavily on her heart at present.