'Traffic and obligations diminish Idul Fitri'

'Traffic and obligations diminish Idul Fitri'

Holidaymakers have started to leave the city to celebrate Idul
Fitri, which will fall on Nov. 25, in their hometowns. The much-
awaited holiday is for many the only time in the year when they
get to meet their families, which makes all the expense and
inconvenience worthwhile. The Jakarta Post talked to a number of
people about going home for the holidays.

Robi, 25, works in a textile company. He lives in Bogor. His
hometown is in Surakarta, Central Java:

Idul Fitri for me is very important. I have to ask for
forgiveness from my parents and get their blessing so I can carry
on through the year.

Going home is an annual tradition for me. I do it every year.
Idul Fitri is the only holiday that enables me to meet all of my
friends back in Surakarta. I don't get the same chance on other
holidays as many of them don't work in Jakarta.

Although the staff in the ticket reservation office in Senen
railway station said all the tickets had been sold out, I will
stay here and wait, hoping for a miracle.

Sutimah, 42, is a housewife who lives in Bekasi with her
husband and two children. Her hometown is Bangkalan, Madura
island, East Java:.

The thing about mudik (the annual exodus out of Jakarta) is
that I can get together with my parents and other relatives. My
parents are very old, so I feel that I have to visit them while
they're still alive.

But I don't go to my hometown every year, though. It depends
my financial situation. But most of the time I get back there to
celebrate Idul Fitri.

Joko Anwar, 28, works in the film industry. He lives in South
Jakarta. His hometown is the North Sumatra capital of Medan:

Idul Fitri for me has becoming less and less meaningful. When
I was younger, it was an eagerly awaited time of forgiveness. It
was such a touchy time.

But now, going home for me merely the performing of my
obligations as a son. With all the trouble I have to go to just
to get a ticket home and the traffic congestion, it's easy to
forget what celebrating Idul Fitri should really feel like.

I wish I could feel about Idul Fitri now as I did when I was
younger. It was such a beautiful time.

-- The Jakarta Post