The chants of takbir or praises to God from mosques and mushola prayer houses respond to each other in a village surrounded by paddy fields and hills.

Beyond the gate of the Mojorejo village in Junrejo district, located 3 kilometers west of the Batu town square in East Java, colorful paper streamers adorn bamboo stems along village roads.

Various lanterns are also decorating the front parts of residents'€™ homes while a number of children, parents and teenagers are heading for the nearest mosques to attend prayers.

It'€™s a glimpse of the village'€™s atmosphere where people prepare to welcome and celebrate Idul Fitri.

Decorating the village with lanterns and other adornments is part of the time-honored tradition of the Mojorejo people, which began when the nation gained independence in 1945. At the time, they listened to the broadcast proclamation of national independence, which was close to the arrival of Idul Fitri.

Out of great joy and deep gratitude to Allah for bestowing the blessing of independence and the Idul Fitri holiday, local villagers put up lanterns and garlands. This tradition has eventually been practiced through generations up to the present as Idul Fitri approaches.

'€œFormerly, residents used coconut leaves to garland bamboo trees and bamboo torches to adorn the front yards of their houses,'€ said Kamari, 73, a community elder.

Now, the paper ribbons and lanterns are fixed starting three days before Idul Fitri by erecting bamboo stems. 

The celebration starts with thanksgiving ceremonies on roadsides around mosques after the Idul Fitri prayers by carrying feast food. Following the rituals, participating families exchange the food they have brought along them and savor it together.  

Side by side: Villagers work together to decorate their neighborhood in Mojorejo village, Junrejo district in East Java ahead of Idul Fitri celebrations.

Thereafter, they help each other to put up lanterns on bamboo stems along the roads. Unlike in other regions, people in this village will only have an Idul Fitri gathering after finishing the lantern decoration work. These lanterns illuminate the roads for 10 days.

According to Sholeh, 39, a resident, locals are free to create their lanterns or other ornaments. Lantern making has become an '€œobligation'€ for all families, especially those living on main roadsides, who can share the crafting job.

As time goes by, lantern creations change in shape every year and the other decorations are also transforming into, among other things, miniatures of pinang tree climbing, becak (pedicabs) and musical stages complete with players and singers.

The original lanterns of the village took the form of drums with oil lamps or triangles with red and white decorative paper, which emit their unique shining colors at night until the 10th day of the month of Syawal.

On the 10th day, residents will mark what is known as the Ketupat holiday, on which they share the traditional ketupat specialty, rice cooked in woven coconut leaves and served with vegetables in coconut milk.

The Ketupat holiday symbolizes the end of Idul Fitri and people begin to remove their respective lanterns and embellishments. Then, the quiet ambience typical of the village will prevail '€” with Mojorejo residents anticipating next year'€™s Idul Fitri to preserve their life traditions and harmony.

A different touch: Decorations come in different shapes, and sizes.

Play of light: Colorful paper decorations are placed around the village.

'€” Photos by Aman Rochman