Our First Idul Fitri

Google Doodle showing Jalarta on the left

Indonesia has come to the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, during which devout Muslims fast from morning until sunset every day.  The time at the end of the month of fasting is, Idul Fitri or Lebaran in Indonesia, is an important holiday, with two legal holidays (Thursday and Friday this year) and many businesses taking a full week off.  The children are also off school for a month during this time.

People living in cities typically go home to their kampung, or neighborhood where they were raised.  There is a massive exit from urban areas, the railway station was very busy, and when we needed to make a trip on Sunday evening, the ride-share companies charged a premium for peak demand.

We underestimated how soon the impact would hit.  We had a bill due, and ran late on Tuesday, so went to the bank on Wednesday...only to discover it was already closed.

During the fasting month, some restaurants close during the day, and those that remain open find a way to prevent people on the street from seeing people eating.  Our favorite neighborhood spot covered their windows with cake boxes, a common strategy.  Others have blinds that pull, and even the outdoor warungs have curtains that they put up, not blocking the entire entrance but just at people level.  We are also careful not to eat as we walk along the street.  A few weeks ago I bought a frozen treat at a grocery store, and left it in the bag until we got home.


The Thursday night, we planned to stay in, but could not go to bed early because of the noise of the fireworks.  We actually had a great view, but I could not seem to capture any of the fireworks on my phone camera. The white rectangle to the right of the screen is a shopping center that turned one side of the bulding into a super-sized screen to transmit messages of good will and flash ads.

On Friday afternoon, we went with a friend from church to visit her aunt who is Muslim and fixed a lovely meal for us.  It was so interesting to learn about the local traditions.

One of the customs is to beg forgiveness of those one may have offended during the previous year.  It is a lovely custom, and I do ask forgiveness if I have offended you.  But isn't there also a Jewish custom to do that during one of the Jewish fall holidays?  Perhaps a reminder of how many religions claim descent from Abraham.

We also had another invitation from church friends who have Muslim friends in a nearby village.  We were treated to another meal there on Saturday morning.

That was north of Medan, almost to the port city of Belawan, and over a bridge that can only handle one car at a time.  After visiting two families and enjoying a feast, they took us out to a waterway only a few minutes away, where we saw some amazing critters including crabs of various colors and types, as well as these mud-hopper fish.

Saturday night, Sanford performed his first baptism on this mission.  All in all, Lebaran felt a lot like the Christmas season.  Even those who are not Christian per se get caught up in the joy of family and a break from routine.