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ndonesian Muslims will celebrate Idul Fitri, the end of Ramadhan, starting Monday. There will be prayers and chants in praise of Allah, feasts, fireworks and, most importantly, a rare chance for people to catch up with extended family and friends.

The government has wisely declared all of next week a public holiday, extending it from the normal two-day holiday. Today, the holiday, and the spirit that comes with it, will be celebrated by Muslims and non-Muslims alike in Indonesia.

If we include the Saturdays and Sundays at both ends of the week, people will have nine days in all to celebrate and to contemplate the meaning of Idul Fitri.

Many have joined the exodus from big cities to celebrate in their home villages. The extended holiday helps to ease the flow of people returning next week. It should not be as chaotic as their departure was in these past few days.

Muslims will rejoice at their spiritual victory after surviving Ramadhan, during which they refrained from eating and drinking during the day and suppressing earthly desires and emotions.

Those who lived up to the task will have spiritually cleansed themselves to purity (fitrah). If Ramadhan was observed by all Muslims in Indonesia, who account for 88 percent of the 250 million population, this nation would be so much better, spiritually. Mass prayers in open fields on Monday morning will be symbolic of the unity of the ummah (Muslim community).

One Indonesian tradition that has evolved around Idul Fitri over the years is for people to reach out to relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbors to ask for forgiveness and to forgive through the greeting mohon maaf lahir batin.

This spirit of forgiving and asking for forgiveness is important to heal wounds after the fiercely fought elections. The legislative election in April was divisive, and the presidential poll this month further split the nation down the middle.

There were times when these tensions looked like they would erupt into violence. By the grace of God, Indonesia has been spared from the electoral violence often experienced in other countries.

This is a sign of a maturing democracy. So, let'€™s all reach out to those on the opposite political side and ask for their forgiveness, and forgive them too. Irrespective of who won the election, this has been a victory of the Indonesian people.

As we celebrate our victory, spare a moment to pray for the millions or billions of people who are far less unfortunate than ourselves, in this country and in many other parts of the world.

Say a special prayer for people in Gaza Strip, Iraq, Afghanistan and many other of the world'€™s trouble spots, and for peace to soon prevail there.

On that note, we wish all our readers the traditional Indonesian Idul Fitri greeting minal aidin wal faizin (may you be counted among the returnees and victors).