Variety reigns as millions celebrate Moslem holidays

Variety reigns as millions celebrate Moslem holidays

JAKARTA (JP): Moslems across the country celebrated this
year's Idul Fitri holidays in a great many styles, garnering a
wealth of experiences.

People in rural areas were happy just to see their children
and other relatives at home after they had long been caught up in
the rat race of urban centers. Those who remained in the cities
enjoyed the unusual lack of hustle and bustle with their
families. And convicts spending their days behind bars shed happy
tears as their loved ones were allowed more time with them to
celebrate the holidays.

Now, with the holidays past in just a matter of hours,
housewives are yearning for the return of their apparently
indispensable housemaids.

Urban women in particular, have been complaining of their
housemaids' extended mudik trips home, which usually last from 10
to 14 days.

Mudik (going home for the holiday) has become a traditional
event for urbanites.

Antara reported that housewives in Bandung, most of whom come
from the middle and upper classes, admit they are lost without
their housemaids and can't wait to hand over the washing,
shopping and cooking once again.

While some employers waited at home for their domestic help to
return, many people spent the two days of Idul Fitri visiting
relatives, friends and recreational spots.

Approaching the Puncak resort, some 60 kilometers south of
here, traffic was reported as running at 30 to 40 kilometers per
hour and still "under control" although congestion occurred
occasionally.

On Friday, traffic along the route increased by 20 percent
from the normal flow of 45,000 cars and went up another five
percent the next day. Traffic along the route was estimated to
reach its peak on Sunday with some 70,000 vehicles.

Chief of National Police Gen. Banurusman Atmosemitro said the
national security and order situation during this year's Idul
Fitri was better than last year's.

He said that during the two weeks of police operations, code-
named Operasi Ketupat, which were especially designed for the
Idul Fitri holidays, 123 crimes, 2,464 traffic violations and 74
road accidents were recorded throughout the country. These
figures, he said, reflected a 50 percent decline compared to last
year's figures for the same period.

The most recent incident reported was an accident killing
three people in Malang, East Java, which occurred on the eve of
Idul Fitri, more popularly known as malam takbiran.

In other parts of Indonesia, malam takbiran was celebrated
festively and without serious incidents. In Surabaya, for
instance, heavy rain could not stop the festivity, while in Jambi
the sound of the beating of bedug (drums commonly found in
mosques) could be heard all night long.

Idul Fitri also brought commotion to the nation's
penitentiaries.

The Kedungpane prison in Semarang, Central Java, was overrun
by visitors on Friday as family members stood in line for the
"tickets" admitting them to visit relatives inside.

At the Banceuy, Kebonwaru and Sukamiskin prisons in Bandung,
criminals and their families met each other with tears and hugs.
From 8:30 a.m to 4 p.m., criminals were allowed to see their
families to exchange the traditional holiday greetings of
forgiveness and to share the latest news with each other.

Similarly in Jambi, criminals and their families gathered at
the penitentiary to celebrate Idul Fitri. Visiting hours were
generously extended from the regular 15 minutes to seven hours,
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At the state penitentiary in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, a
criminal was released shortly after the Idul Fitri prayers on
Friday. Ashab Hermawan bin Mardani, 28, who was sentenced five
months imprisonment for a robbery, left the prison at 8 a.m. with
a big smile on his face.

However, not all detainees were lucky enough to be given a
chance to meet their families. And at least one took matters into
his own hands.

Jali, a murderer, swindler and detainee at the Serang, West
Java, police command, who was being treated at Serang's general
hospital, broke out of the hospital through a bathroom window to
spend Idul Fitri with his family.

Idul Fitri was also celebrated by hundreds of Navy officers on
board the KRI Arun warship, presently docked at the Bitung harbor
in North Sulawesi.

The officers, who were in the midst of carrying out Operation
Trisula IV/95, had their share of festivities after performing
Idul Fitri prayers on Friday with some 5,000 Moslems living
around the area.

In loftier social circles, Idul Fitri visits took place
between President and Mrs. Tien Soeharto and Commander of the
Armed Forces Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Army Chief Gen. Hartono, Navy
Chief Admiral Tanto Koeswanto, Air Force Chief Marshal Rilo
Pambudi and National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman and their
spouses.

The Armed Forces officers met with the first couple at their
residence on Jl. Cendana, Jakarta. (pwn)