Lebaran is the largest and most festive holiday here, probably comparable to Christmas in many other parts of the world. (Christmas is also a big holiday here but not as big as Eid ul Fitr.)
One of the most important traditions of the Lebaran is that people would visit their parents, families, and relatives to ask for their forgiveness and improve ties. For those who live in the cities, this means traveling back to their hometowns and villages. Done by a huge number of people at about the same time, the travel imposes a huge logistical burden on the country's public transportation system which, I must admit, is not in a very good shape. Train tickets would normally be sold out a month ahead of the holiday, so are bus, airline, and ship tickets.
Those who have cars would travel with them. Others would just try about anything to get to their destinations, including riding motorbikes and other means of transportation like trucks and bajaj (a three-weeler motorbike taxi).
4 comments:
Saudara Eki,
Selamat Menyambut Hari Lebaran dari saya di Bintulu,Sarawak. Maaf zahir dan batin.
Happy Eid ul Fitr!
Eki, I imagine you have nothing to ask forgiveness for, so you are staying home and out of that traffic, right?
But it is a good custom. We also must obtain forgiveness from our fellow man in these ten Days of Awe now.
I ask my readers to pardon me for all the nice comments still not answered.
I do hope they drive carefully"Ber Hati-hati di Jalan Raya" :)
Safe journey.
Thank you for sharing these festivity description with us, Eki!!
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