Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country on the globe, laid along the equator in Southeast Asia. The culture is diverse, with over 300 ethnic groups and hundreds of traditional languages. Religious values abundantly influence our lives in Indonesia. We are practicing our beliefs, doing the services as manifestations of our faith regardless of our religion. Officially, we have the Ministry of Religious Affairs responsible for taking care of the six different beliefs, including Islam, Christian, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. We observe the holidays of those religions with countless rites and festivals. According to the National Education Law, our education aims to “develop learners’ potentials so that they become persons …. who are faithful and pious to one and only God.” The curriculum includes several hours of religious courses to be delivered in the classrooms from grade schools to higher education to achieve that goal. There, we both institutionalize and celebrate our beliefs.
At least 87% of about 270 million Indonesians are Muslim. This number makes Indonesia home to the largest Muslim population in the world. Historians say that Islam in Indonesia was introduced by traders from Gujarat, India. Then, our ancestors brought together the imported values and traditional culture. There was also the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism, which were established earlier in the islands. The Masjids’ architecture, the way we dress-up, the food, the tradition, and the rites reflected this amalgamation. Hence, our ancestors placed Islamic values in Indonesian contexts, and we inherited the way they practiced the religion with some adjustments along the way.
Islam is introduced to children by the Indonesian parents on the day they are born. The first voice they heard was Adhan and Iqama, the call to prayers, recited softly by the parents. The boys will be asked to do Friday prayer in the Masjid at a younger age. During my elementary school years, my parents sent me to a madrasah in the late afternoon to study Islamic subjects. A tutor (he was a junior cleric) came to our house after the night prayer to teach reading Al-Qur’an to my brother and me, twice a week. Instead of inviting a private tutor, my friends went to the Masjid in the neighborhood to take the same lesson. Most Muslim Indonesians would likely have a similar learning experience to get acquainted with Islam. My mother kept telling me, “I do not ask you to master all the Islamic subjects you learned, but I hope the values will guide you throughout your life.” As I agreed with her, my husband and I use this perspective in raising our child.
After completing the fasting month, we will celebrate Lebaran (Eid Al- Fitr). We start the celebration with a congregated prayer in the morning. Then, we get together with family and visit the neighbors to greet each other. Each household has special food to celebrate but the typical type of staple food served is ketupat (rice cake). That day, children usually wear new clothes and get pocket money from adults. Zakat (a form of almsgiving) will be distributed to those in need so they can celebrate the day too. It is a happy day for all of us.
Finally, I will tell you about the holy month of Ramadhan. Ramadhan in Indonesia is a month-long festivity. The people will be up at 2 or 3 am to have a pre-dawn meal (Suhoor). A couple of hours before sunset, many hawkers will sell mouthwatering seasonal delicacies for break-fasting time (Iftar). The Masjids will be very busy in the night time as people will attend the Ramadhan prayer (Tarawih) and stay there longer for reciting Al-Qur’an. Sharing meals for Suhoor and Iftar is a common thing to see everywhere.
After completing the fasting month, we will celebrate Lebaran (Eid Al- Fitr). We start the celebration with a congregated prayer in the morning. Then, we get together with family and visit the neighbors to greet each other. Each household has special food to celebrate but the typical type of staple food served is ketupat (rice cake). That day, children usually wear new clothes and get pocket money from adults. Zakat (a form of almsgiving) will be distributed to those in need so they can celebrate the day too. It is a happy day for all of us.
There will be a week-long national holiday to observe the day. Jakarta, the capital, and the other big cities will be suddenly empty. Majority of their residents will leave the cities for their hometowns to visit their parents and family. We call the annual mass movement “mudik.” All roads and highways, airports, seaports, bus and train stations will be very crowded. The traffic is often horrible. Despite the messiness which occurred sometimes, the memory of mudik and Lebaran will always warm my heart whenever I am away from Indonesia like today.
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Puji Mudiana is a Muslim Indonesian, a Ph.D. student, a mother who is currently studying at IU School of Education. She loves cooking and working with numbers, the bigger the better. She likes to observe how a “great” policy works in the real world.
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