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The indigent celebrate holy month with joy
Muslims all over the world celebrated Idul Fitri their own way and the poor of Jakarta were no different
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uslims all over the world celebrated Idul Fitri their own way and the poor of Jakarta were no different.
In Paris, teenagers lit firecrackers, while others beat bedug (a large two-sided drum) enthusiastically. However, this was not the 'Gay Paree' that lies on the banks of the River Siene, where Jakarta-born singer Anggun C. Sasmi calls home. It was the small second-hand goods market in Senen, Central Jakarta.
Kota Paris, as locals call it, is a densely populated slum area.
'We usually light firecrackers for Idul Fitri. We are not afraid of them hurting us,' Syaiful Hadi, 17, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
He said that he would go to Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta with his family as it was an affordable day out. Meanwhile, on the first day of Idul Fitri, he said he did the usual silaturahmi (friendly meeting) visits.
'Idul Fitri is a time to forgive and strengthen relationships,' he said.
He said this year was not much different to last year. His father, who works as a bajaj (three-wheeled vehicle) driver, bought him a new long shirt. Meanwhile, his mother cooked popular Idul Fitri dishes, such as ketupat (rice cakes in plaited young coconut leaves) and opor ayam (chicken cooked in coconut milk).
He said that he could still enjoy Idul Fitri despite its simplicity. He also never felt sad that he lived in a slum because he had many friends. Living a simple life together strengthened the neighborhood.
He said the best part of the fasting month was when he, along with his friends, woke up the neighborhood for sahur (pre-dawn meal) by striking the bedug.
'Togetherness is the best thing here,' he said.
Like Syaiful, Ahmad Taufik, 45, a garbage collector who lives in Teluk Gong in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, said that he would be spending the holiday resting because he had worked very hard during Ramadhan.
The money that he had earned was sent to members of his family in Pasuruan, East Java.
He said that he had planned to return to Madura, East Java, to see his wife and two sons, but he had failed to secure a train ticket.
'It does not a matter that I won't be able to meet my family this year. I am used to celebrating Idul Fitri alone,' said Taufik, who lives under overpass, 'I am still happy.'
During Idul Fitri, he said, he hoped that the city administration did not attempt to evict him again.
'It [city administration] should understand our situation,' he said. (alz)
In Paris, teenagers lit firecrackers, while others beat bedug (a large two-sided drum) enthusiastically. However, this was not the 'Gay Paree' that lies on the banks of the River Siene, where Jakarta-born singer Anggun C. Sasmi calls home. It was the small second-hand goods market in Senen, Central Jakarta.
Kota Paris, as locals call it, is a densely populated slum area.
'We usually light firecrackers for Idul Fitri. We are not afraid of them hurting us,' Syaiful Hadi, 17, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
He said that he would go to Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta with his family as it was an affordable day out. Meanwhile, on the first day of Idul Fitri, he said he did the usual silaturahmi (friendly meeting) visits.
'Idul Fitri is a time to forgive and strengthen relationships,' he said.
He said this year was not much different to last year. His father, who works as a bajaj (three-wheeled vehicle) driver, bought him a new long shirt. Meanwhile, his mother cooked popular Idul Fitri dishes, such as ketupat (rice cakes in plaited young coconut leaves) and opor ayam (chicken cooked in coconut milk).
He said that he could still enjoy Idul Fitri despite its simplicity. He also never felt sad that he lived in a slum because he had many friends. Living a simple life together strengthened the neighborhood.
He said the best part of the fasting month was when he, along with his friends, woke up the neighborhood for sahur (pre-dawn meal) by striking the bedug.
'Togetherness is the best thing here,' he said.
Like Syaiful, Ahmad Taufik, 45, a garbage collector who lives in Teluk Gong in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, said that he would be spending the holiday resting because he had worked very hard during Ramadhan.
The money that he had earned was sent to members of his family in Pasuruan, East Java.
He said that he had planned to return to Madura, East Java, to see his wife and two sons, but he had failed to secure a train ticket.
'It does not a matter that I won't be able to meet my family this year. I am used to celebrating Idul Fitri alone,' said Taufik, who lives under overpass, 'I am still happy.'
During Idul Fitri, he said, he hoped that the city administration did not attempt to evict him again.
'It [city administration] should understand our situation,' he said. (alz)
