It always rains at funerals: A woman prays at her family grave at Karet Bivak Cemetery in Central Jakarta on Friday. People usually visit cemeteries to pray for their deceased family members before starting the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan. JP/ Nurhayati
Two public events in a month might seem like a double opportunity, but in some cases it’s bad for business, flower sellers and caretakers at the Karet Bivak Cemetery said Friday.
“There are fewer visitors compared to last year,” Waryunah, a flower seller, lamented as she glanced at piles of rose and jasmine petals and aromatic pandan leaves.
Business has been slow since Wednesday, she said. “I haven’t even managed to sell all of yesterday’s stock.”
A few days before Ramadan, or fasting month, begins, Muslims in Indonesia traditionally visit their family members’ graves to pray for the deceased. One of the rituals, albeit not a religious one, is sprinkling fragrant flowers and leaves on the graves. This year, Ramadan begins on Saturday. Thus, a 20-meter line of flower sellers has been present on the sidewalk outside Karet Bivak Cemetery since last week.
The number of visitors usually peaks on the last day before Ramadan, but apparently this was not the case this year.
“It was not bad on Sunday and Monday,” Waryunah said, “I managed to earn Rp 130,000 [US$11.7] each day. But today I have only earned Rp 30,000 so far.”
Most Jakartans enjoyed a holiday last Monday, because it was Independence Day.
“I suppose it is because people are still worn out from the Independence Day celebrations,” Ferry, a parking attendant said.
He usually works as an ojek or motorcycle taxi driver. However, he seized the pre-Ramadan moment in the hope of making some extra money.
“My family members are here too. My wife sells flowers,” he said, pointing at the smiling woman next to him. “My brother also sells flowers over there, and my sister here sells cold drinks for the parking attendants.”
Tri Ambarwati, another flower seller who was worried about not being able to make enough profit, said the time of the month also played a part in making business less favorable, “Maybe because this is the end of the month,” she said, referring to the fact that most companies did not pay their employees until the end of the month.
The declining number of visitors was indeed bad news for the grave caretakers.
“The family members whose relatives’ graves I take care of usually call me to say they will be coming,” Ismail, a caretaker said, “But I haven’t received many phone calls lately.”
The Ramadan period is also an opportunity for numerous peddlers who fill the paths between the rows of graves to sell all kinds of wares, ranging from foods to furry creatures.
It was natural to seize the moment, Aco Kero, who sells hamsters and tiny green turtles said. “It gets crowded during this period and visitors usually bring their children,” he added, grinning. (dis)
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