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Mudik: a blessing for some Jakarta residents
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Jl. Jendral Sudirman in South Jakarta appears deserted following the mass exodus from Jakarta for Idul Fitri. (kompas.com/Sandro Gatra)
W
hile most residents of Jakarta chose to return to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri with their families, a few opt to remain in the city to take advantage of the rare serenity.
Ganindro Dananjoyo, a banker who was born in Magelang, Central Java, is among those who have chosen to stay in Jakarta this year.
“Ever since I moved to the city, I have celebrated Idul Fitri here with my family,” he said.
The tradition of returning home, locally known as mudik, is a popular ritual during Idul Fitri, particularly for residents of Jakarta. The capital is home to many workers who moved to the city from other areas in search of work.
The Jakarta Transportation Agency predicted that at least 6 million people would travel to their hometowns for the holidays this year, temporarily reducing the population of Jakarta by around 50 percent.
During Idul Fitri, Ganindro plans to visit to his relatives in Jakarta and voiced relief that he would not have to worry about traffic.
Muhammad Irfan, an accountant, said mudik was a blessing in disguise, explaining that while he could have opted to return home to Medan, North Sumatra, he preferred to stay in Jakarta.
“It’s a rare moment; I can drive from my house in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, to Gandaria City, South Jakarta, in less than an hour,” he said. (adt/iwa)
