TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Why people spend more on fasting month
Ramadan, or the fasting month, is a part of most Indonesian people’s life because more than 80 percent of the population is Muslim
Change Size
R
amadan, or the fasting month, is a part of most Indonesian people’s life because more than 80 percent of the population is Muslim. During the 30-day ritual, Muslims are obliged to refrain from eating, drinking and having sex during the day and should control their emotions (such as anger) in order to improve their spirituality in the holy month.
Ramadan is also the time for sharing and giving, where people are supposed to pay more attention to the poor and those less fortunate than themselves by giving donations in the form of money, food and clothing. Through fasting, Muslims are encouraged to lead a prudent and productive life so that at the end of the month, or at the celebration of Idul Fitri, people can rejoice in their victory in defeating the obstacles and temptations of the fasting days.
Unfortunately, the rituals of fasting and celebrating Idul Fitri have now shifted into a so-called euphoria of consumerism. This can be seen from the way Muslims spend their money during the month. Some of them consider the fasting days as the time to lead a life of consumption by spending huge amounts of money to buy unnecessary items excessive to their needs, and Idul Fitri as the time when they can shop for anything they want to purchase. People are accustomed to buying more food, although they must realize that their stomach cannot hold that much food; nor are all the new things they purchase actually necessary.
It has become the norm for us, with households providing more food for breaking the fast than they would usually eat on ordinary days; adults queuing at the department stores to buy new clothes for themselves and for their children; teenagers lining the malls to buy religious accessories, and so on. From these examples, we see that people are far from being prudent and simple, as the essence of fasting requires them to be.
Why does this consumerism persist in our society during the fasting month? With 12 hours of fasting where the need for food is supposed to be reduced, why do people sometimes spend double what they would usually spend on a monthly basis?
The food and beverages people consume is the primary reason why people spend more money during Ramadan. As people are fasting during the day, consuming special food and beverages after the fast (in the evening) is something they regularly do to “get even”. It means people have to improve the quantity and the quality of meals at the end of the fasting day.
Sometimes, households force themselves to provide expensive meals every day during Ramadan, although they know that they cannot afford them. As well as that, the custom of devouring more snacks in the evening after the main dinner has added another layer of consumerism during the fasting month.
The excuse is that eating as many snacks as possible in the evening will give people more strength to fast during the day.
During the fasting month, people shared a common belief that it is the occasion to purchase new things in order to prepare themselves for the festivities of Idul Fitri. The celebration of Idul Fitri, when people are gathering with their families and relatives as well as visiting neighbors or friends, is just like “showing off” their new items, such as clothes, bags, religious clothes, and shoes. Therefore, for some people purchasing new things is considered obligatory in order to welcome Idul Fitri. The advertisements that lead people to shop for discounted items at department stores that offer “the harmony of Ramadan” contribute to this consumer euphoria.
Lifestyle also has a say as a factor of consumerism during the month of Ramadan. This can be seen from the tradition of “feasting together”, the occasion of having a meal together to break the fast with colleagues, communities, relatives or neighbors. This occasion is considered a means to strengthen the relationship bonds between people during Ramadan and is becoming a tradition for urban society.
However, sometimes the hosts for this feast get trapped in the idea that the foods should be special and so will cost more. The variety of food and beverages on these occasions is important for the host to show his or her attitude toward the guests, or as a means to show off. In addition, when people choose malls or restaurants for this tradition, they have to reach deeper into their pockets in order to afford it.
All in all, the month of Ramadan, which is supposed to be a time of self-control, for some people, is considered a time for the euphoria of consumerism. They are the people who fail to comprehend the meaning of fasting as a process of transforming from the old self to become a better person when the victorious day of Idul Fitri arrives. That is why, it is better for us to see that consumerism, through imprudent spending on food, new items and lifestyle choices, is a temptation in itself that should be avoided if we want to grasp the true essence of Ramadan.
The writer is staff member at the office of the coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister. The opinions expressed are personal.
