Especially in Jakarta, “mudik” which is the tradition of the citizens to go back to their rural hometowns at the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan to spend Lebaran Day or Eid Al Fitr Islamic holiday with the family highlights the mixture of people in the city. As a metropolitan city, Jakarta with a population of more than 10 million people attracts various multi-ethnics from all over Indonesia.
They come to the capital city to try their lucks, while their relatives still live in their hometowns. So, generally speaking, “mudik” is a kind of homecoming of the city dwellers to return to their hometowns temporarily. This annual tradition occurs several days before the Islamic holiday Eid al Fitr (in Indonesian it is called Lebaran) which marks the end of Ramadhan, the month of fasting and prayer. This becomes the tradition in Indonesia because it is an annual activity which is done routinely from time to time. The term “mudik” derives from the Javanese word “mulih dilik” which means coming home temporarily. Most of the homeward-bound travelers are from Jakarta with the destination to Central Java which reaches almost 8 million people. Other travelers go to other cities or parts across Indonesia. They use different means of transportation to travel from motorcycles, private cars, buses, trains, ships to planes. They come from different professions from employees, civil servants, military personnel, officials, etc. This homecoming activity indicates that most residents of Jakarta come from outside Jakarta. This activity has become a tradition to celebrate Eid al-Fitr holiday season with families, relatives and friends back in the hometowns. There are some reasons why the city dwellers come back to their hometown temporarily such as maintaining good relationship and brotherhood, spending the holiday with big families and proving their success.
First, maintaining a good relationship with big families, relatives, and extended family may be the main reason why people are willing to travel back far away to their hometowns. The city dwellers must have been missed their parents or relatives in the hometown and meet them is a good thing to do. Asking for forgiveness to the elders or friends is a local wisdom especially among the muslims on this occasion. Or maybe after living in another city far from hometown, they probably have changed so much that each of them doesn’t recognize one another. So, homecoming is a good way to maintain brotherhood and good relationship among the family members and relatives.
Second, homecoming is meant to spend a long holiday after the holy month of Ramadhan with people whom they used to be close. They could be their next- door neighbors, close friends they used to play with or talk to or the elders they respect to. This is a good and precious once-in-a-year moment to meet them again. Because of that, it will be best for families when they can come back to hometown with the family member because they only have limited time to spend together.
Third, “mudik” can be an evidence of the success of city dwellers after living in a big city for quite some time. For some people, mudik may be a kind of show off to the people who don’t change much economically. The success is often measured by how they go back to their hometown, their appearance, their way of thinking or their generosity and care to the local people in the hometown. For those who are successful and willing to share their experience, stories and expertise,the people in the village or suburban areas might be motivated to come to the big city to try their lucks. Quite often, when the city-dwellers go back to the city after the holiday is over, they come along with their relatives or friends to the city.
In short, there are many reasons that motivate people for a mudik which has become a tradition. For people who live for years in big city like Jakarta, mudik will help them forget the routine activities hustle and bustle of living in big city for a moment. Quiet, serene situation of the village is in contrast with the noise and heavy traffic they have to endure in the city. For some of them, the feeling of homecoming will motivate them to go back to reminisce their hometown, especially if their hometown is very far from the city.
By Anonymous
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