It’s Ramadan, again. The hoopla of the holy month has begun days before the start of the fasting month. These days it’s a bit different, thanks to the Internet and smarter gadgets though — I already exchanged text messages with my friends and many of them updated their Facebook status, asking for forgiveness and wishing luck that their loved ones will be able to go through the fasting month.
Ramadan has always been welcomed cheerfully and this year is no different — even though we just bounced back from shock after July’s terror bombings at two Jakarta hotels. The fasting month should serve as a “battle zone” between Muslims against hunger, thirst, smoking, sex and misconducts from dawn to dusk.
At the end of the day, we all hope that we will celebrate our victory at Idul Fitri holidays — where we will be reborn in a pure spirit for a better future.
This year is the first time for my six-year-old daughter to start fasting. She had objected, saying she would be starving at school. I told her that she would only perform puasa bedug (half-day fasting when children are allowed to have lunch at midday before continue fasting). In return, she asked me if she could have her favorite nata de coco thirst quencher for breaking the fast. I don’t mind at all.
After all, Muslims in Indonesia have the tradition of providing sweet treats such as kolak or biji salak (sweet condiment with coconut milk and palm sugar) or es buah (fruits served with ice) to break the fast. During Ramadan, it’s very easy to find people selling these sweet treats in traditional markets or even sidewalk food stalls. It’s a seasonal business helpful enough for office workers who may have to break their fast on their way home in Jakarta’s suburbs. Even restaurants are also giving special treats for breaking the fast as a compliment to their customers.
Although nutritionists give advice that Muslims better switch to fruit juices instead of these sweet treats — as they will only accelerate aging or develop diabetes — or follow Prophet Muhammad’s example by breaking fast with water and dates, breaking the fast without kolak feels like that day is incomplete.
Speaking about Ramadan always brings back childhood memories of when my mother made kolak or cendol (condiment served with coconut milk and caramelized palm sugar). Mothers are always busier during Ramadan in preparing sweet treats for the whole family. Instead of taking naps during day time, many of them are busy cooking.
During Ramadan, families usually spend extra for the additional sweet treats but the main issue is that they have to deal with the food staples price hike. The higher demands for rice, sugar and cooking oil, just to name a few, surely boost the prices up. And the prices will be higher approaching Idul Fitri holidays as many families are preparing for the festivities by cooking ketupat (rice wrapped in coconut leaves and steamed) and its side dishes such as opor ayam (chicken cooked in coconut milk) and sambal goreng hati (liver cooked with chilies and coconut milk).
Although Ramadan encourages modesty for Muslims, the temptation for shopping seems irresistible. Malls decorate their interiors Ramadan style, displaying the latest Muslim fashion on the mannequins.
On TV, we easily spot ads offering products – ranging from medicines to sarongs – while newspapers flaunt ads from hypermarkets offering “cheaper” prices for dates and Muslim attire, etc.
Who wouldn’t be tempted to buy a piece or two as a reward for our children because they were able to complete their fasting (although some of them have the midday lunch break)? In the era of consumerism, we get carried away to always wear something new to welcome the “new” us for the Idul Fitri holidays.
Islam teaches us to spare a portion of our wealth for the needy and by fasting we hope to be able to understand their suffering. By “suffering” during day time, we hope to become more compassionate persons to others.
“Marhaban yaa Ramadan”, happy fasting everyone.
— Primastuti Handayani
