IDUL FITRI 1433 H

Eid al-Fitr (“Feast of Fast-Breaking” or in Indonesia it is called Idul Fitri), is Muslim festival that follows Ramadan, the month of fasting. The three-day religious festival of Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadan, a month of prayer and of abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset.

The most important observances of Idul FItri generally take place on the first day. Muslims take part in communal prayers in the early morning, at a mosque or in an open space outside their city or town. Like what I had in my village, all villagers gather in one of our field. In this field we pray together since early morning and then we shake hand with all villagers (well, sometimes I skip this part,hehe..because it takes hours just to shake hand with more than 300 people). This part is aimed to apologize each other and to strengthen the brotherhood among all villagers.

The next destination after field is home. In my family, we always do “sungkeman”. This is the tradition for apologizing all members of the family. As shown in the picture below, the older person (parents, older brothers/older sisters) are sitting on the chair and the younger sisters/brothers sit below them. I am the youngest child in my family so I always stay below them :P...

During this day, generally people put on their best clothes or Moslem clothes such as ‘hijab’ (for woman) and “baju koko” (for man). They greet people on the street, hugs each other and wishing “eid mubarok” (Blessed holiday). Children may receive some money or gifts from their parents and relatives. In Idul Fitri this year, my nephew for example, he received 45 thousands rupiahs just an hour after sungkeman finished,,hahhaa...and he was so happy to receive that money.

One of the special food for celebrating Idul Fitri is Opor ayam (chicken curry) and we eat it with ketupat (rice is cooked with coconut leaf). It is quite complicated to make ketupat, since you have to string the coconut leaf into one shape like parallelogram. I am pretty sure I will never ever be able to make this ketupat...but my father is really skillful to make it (give applause !!!! haha). In Idul Fitri this year I made a delicious fresh beverage, it is called “ Cole fruit ice”.  “Cole” is derived from Coconut and lemon. I created the recipe myself. I used both coconut water and coconut flesh. I also put lemon water and I mixed it with some fruits like strawberry and melon. Selamat mencoba ! Haha... J

Idul fitri is also a time for visiting family and relatives. we are so happy to see each other, greet them, and wishing Eid Mubarak. I hope the next idul fitri will be more amazing. Source: 

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