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)