How Indonesians Celebrate Ramadan? Things You Can Look Forward To

TheIndonesia.id - As a country with the largest Muslim population, the month of Ramadan is a significant moment in Indonesia. So, how Indonesians celebrate Ramadan?

If you are wondering what is Ramadan, It is the month when Muslims all over the world will fast for the entire month. This means they will not eat, drink, and conduct other things that are prohibited by the religion from the break of day until sunset. 

Fasting is intended to bring Muslims closer to God and to exercise self-restraint. Ramadan is also known as the month of giving, therefore many Muslims give back, donate to charity and feed the hungry.

As the most populated Muslim country, Indonesians celebrate and greet the month in a very festive way. The very simple thing that you will most likely see is children playing with firecrackers or fireworks that are popularly found during festive times. There are also other unique ways different parts of Indonesia practice to greet the month.

Besides fasting, there are other traditions that Indonesians usually do. The first one is Sahur. It is the time when people have an early morning meal before fasting, which normally starts before 4 AM.  

To wake up the people for having Sahur, young people will walk around the village or community in the city, hitting bamboos or kitchen tools, shouting "Sahur, sahur" in melodious tunes.

Then, there is a Ngabuburit tradition. 

To avoid being tempted to eat and drink, people keep themselves busy with activities awaiting iftar which is announced by the sound of the Bedug drum of the mosque.

Before Bedug, people usually search for 'special sweet foods' to break the fast.

During Ramadan, the Muslims do evening prayers called Tarawih. After the heavy meal, it is customary for people to pray Tarawih at the local mosque.

How to Enjoy Holiday during Ramadan in Indonesia? 

Ramadan is a significant moment in Indonesia as the country has the largest Muslim population in the world. As Muslims celebrate Ramadan, the country feels more joyful than usual. Traveling during Ramadan is something that you will never forget for a long time. 

Quoting The Ministry of Tourism data, here are tips to enjoy your holiday during Ramadan in Indonesia to the fullest.

First, choosing a hotel location matters a lot when you want to experience the festive atmosphere of Ramadan. 

In a certain corner of the city, there will be a streetside market where you can find a lot of food stalls offering snacks and takjil, desserts regularly made during Ramadan to break the fast. 

So be on the lookout for the best hotels in Indonesia that are strategically located near a well-known market or a grand Mosque. 

However, during Ramadan Muslims in Indonesia would often remind the time of Suhor early in the morning through loudspeakers. 

If you are a light sleeper, then you might want to keep a distance from mosques.

The restaurant situation throughout Ramadan is either close earlier than usual, are not opened at all, or are still open with their windows or doors covered partly. These are mostly done to show respect to Muslims who are fasting. If you don’t fast and are looking for breakfast or lunch, no worries! 

Various fast-food or franchise restaurants still have normal operating hours most of the time, so finding food is not as difficult as you may think.

If you prefer to eat other than from chain restaurants, then you can order through the delivery apps.

Next, one of the activities you have to try to truly feel the festive atmosphere of Ramadan is hunting for takjil.

As the sun begins to set and iftar time is about to come, the food stalls will start to appear around many well-known markets or grand Mosques.

Experiencing the festivity of Ramadan would not be complete without taking a visit to some of the most iconic mosques in Indonesia. 

While these mosques are built to accommodate Muslims for praying, you are still allowed to explore the ins and outs of the mosque to appreciate its beauty.

However, keep in mind to always be respectful.