TheJakartaPost
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Jakartans line up for crisp small bills ahead of Idul Fitri
Giving out money as gifts during Idul Fitri is a long-standing tradition among Muslim families in the country, with the term angpao adopted from the Chinese-Indonesian tradition during Lunar New Year celebrations.
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A customer shows off crisp banknotes in smaller denominations after exchanging his money at a cash-exchange service in the IRTI parking lot at the National Monument (Monas) on May 13. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
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anding out money to children is part of the classic Idul Fitri tradition and lines of people formed in the National Monument (Monas) area in Central Jakarta on Monday looking to get fresh banknotes in small denominations to give out as gifts.
Some 14 mobile outlets from a number of state- and city-owned as well as private banks parked in the IRTI parking area in Monas to accommodate the demand.
Nuriyah, 35, arrived at 11:30 a.m. and quickly got into line with her husband and two children. She wanted to change Rp 1.5 million (US$104) in Rp 100,000 banknotes into Rp 10,000 and Rp 5,000 bills.
“This is my first time changing money at an official outlet,” she said.
The mobile banknote-exchange service in Monas is among 2,895 official outlets across the nation provided by Bank Indonesia (BI).
“I used to use individual money changers on the streets. But they charge quite a high commission. Last year, I paid Rp 120,000 for every Rp 100,000 I got,” the Cengkareng, West Jakarta, resident said.
It took her an hour to finally receive her fresh banknotes. The money will be distributed to her nephews and nieces in her hometown in Cirebon, West Java, where she will celebrate Idul Fitri.
