Lily b. Libo-on
DUBAI — Indonesian expatriates celebrating Ramadan in the UAE surely miss the gongs of the traditional “Baduk” or “Agong”, which signal the time of Iftar and Sahoor in every traditional mosque across Indonesia. Yet, its absence has provided them with more time for introspection of what is Ramadan.
Indonesian couple, Ichsan and Defi Sarkawi told Khaleej Times that their hearts long for the usual “Baduk” sounds that signal the time of Iftar and Sahoor during which the families walk along the streets praising God and shouting “Allahu Akbar”. “Still Indonesians in the towns and villages are practising the traditional ‘Takbeer’. The community walk along the streets to magnify Allah with the “Baduk” beats to remind everyone that it is fasting time or time to break the fast,” Ichsan said.
Defi said they all miss their families and loved ones because the religious fervour is so strong during the “Takbeer” as it is praising time that goes with the fasting. “This Takbiran feeling is not there when we celebrate Ramadan outside Indonesia. We mostly miss our families during Taraweeh prayers followed by Islamic lectures in the mosques,” she said.
Ichsan said that Indonesian expatriates are bringing their culture closer to them here in the UAE as much as possible by preparing the same food, the way they dress up in Malay outfit, and keep themselves abreast with the Islamic lectures every Friday at the Indonesian Consulate General compound. “Our Imams deliver the Islamic lectures in the Bahasa Indonesia language and we understand it fully. This follows “Tausiah”, the get-together of breaking the fast and praying,” he said.
Indonesian Consul General Mansyur Pangeran told Khaleej Times that Friday’s “Tausiah” was special because the community and the consulate celebrated the “Nuzulul Quran”, which marked the day the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. “As a special day, we had the champion of Indonesian Quran reading competition to perform,” he said. “This way, we are bringing our own tradition and cultural celebration during Ramadan in our weekly get-together to break the fast and to pray together.”
Judhi and Ami Prasetyo also expressed the same excitement over being with the other Indonesian families at the Iftar.
The couple said that they would spend with other families their Iftar most of the weekdays having pot luck. “Each family brings home-made food specially cooked for the occasion and we pool our food together and break the fast in the place of friends, who have bigger spaces to hold more families. ”
“For us, the Takbir is so unique and special but we miss it here in the UAE. Although Ramadan here is quiet, this calmness gives us so much time to reflect on what we need to attain a new heart, new spirit and the right feeling for Ramadan,” Judhi said.
Ami said spending Ramadan in Indonesia would not give them the time to properly contemplate on the fasting month because they will be distracted with shopping and preparing the food as every Iftar is a big event for all to break the fast with family, relatives and friends.
lily@khaleejtimes.com
Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com
DUBAI — Indonesian expatriates celebrating Ramadan in the UAE surely miss the gongs of the traditional “Baduk” or “Agong”, which signal the time of Iftar and Sahoor in every traditional mosque across Indonesia. Yet, its absence has provided them with more time for introspection of what is Ramadan.
Indonesian couple, Ichsan and Defi Sarkawi told Khaleej Times that their hearts long for the usual “Baduk” sounds that signal the time of Iftar and Sahoor during which the families walk along the streets praising God and shouting “Allahu Akbar”. “Still Indonesians in the towns and villages are practising the traditional ‘Takbeer’. The community walk along the streets to magnify Allah with the “Baduk” beats to remind everyone that it is fasting time or time to break the fast,” Ichsan said.
Defi said they all miss their families and loved ones because the religious fervour is so strong during the “Takbeer” as it is praising time that goes with the fasting. “This Takbiran feeling is not there when we celebrate Ramadan outside Indonesia. We mostly miss our families during Taraweeh prayers followed by Islamic lectures in the mosques,” she said.
Ichsan said that Indonesian expatriates are bringing their culture closer to them here in the UAE as much as possible by preparing the same food, the way they dress up in Malay outfit, and keep themselves abreast with the Islamic lectures every Friday at the Indonesian Consulate General compound. “Our Imams deliver the Islamic lectures in the Bahasa Indonesia language and we understand it fully. This follows “Tausiah”, the get-together of breaking the fast and praying,” he said.
Indonesian Consul General Mansyur Pangeran told Khaleej Times that Friday’s “Tausiah” was special because the community and the consulate celebrated the “Nuzulul Quran”, which marked the day the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. “As a special day, we had the champion of Indonesian Quran reading competition to perform,” he said. “This way, we are bringing our own tradition and cultural celebration during Ramadan in our weekly get-together to break the fast and to pray together.”
Judhi and Ami Prasetyo also expressed the same excitement over being with the other Indonesian families at the Iftar.
The couple said that they would spend with other families their Iftar most of the weekdays having pot luck. “Each family brings home-made food specially cooked for the occasion and we pool our food together and break the fast in the place of friends, who have bigger spaces to hold more families. ”
“For us, the Takbir is so unique and special but we miss it here in the UAE. Although Ramadan here is quiet, this calmness gives us so much time to reflect on what we need to attain a new heart, new spirit and the right feeling for Ramadan,” Judhi said.
Ami said spending Ramadan in Indonesia would not give them the time to properly contemplate on the fasting month because they will be distracted with shopping and preparing the food as every Iftar is a big event for all to break the fast with family, relatives and friends.
lily@khaleejtimes.com
Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com
