Bima's serenity: Ramadan and the Festival of Breaking the Fast on the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia

6/7/2016

Culture ■
Ramadan has come to an end and is celebrated with the Festival of Breaking the Fast - or also called Eid al-Fitr. Since the vast majority of the population in Bima is Muslim, Ramadan was visible in this city for a whole month on every corner of the street. And at the end of this holy month, lots of people have holiday.

BY HANAN, 3 minutes read

Bima people at the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia praying with Eid al-Fitr.

Ramadan is more than just fasting. This holy month is all about solidarity and celebrations. Every evening, in family or with friends, there is a delicious meal and these meals are shared with less fortunate people.

The ideal time to visit Bima as a backpacker

Every evening in the main square of Bima you can find all kinds of stalls with a lot of delicious food that can only be found during this period. It's the ideal time to visit Bima as a backpacker if you like to taste many differents kinds of food. And at the end of Ramadan, everyone makes a donation 'Zakat' to someone who is less fortunate in Bima - you get a huge gratitude back from these people.

Dinner during Ramadan.

Pasar Murah (cheap), clothing market at the end of Ramadan.

During Ramadan, many children going in the evening to the streets with fireworks. This can be fun and beautiful, but it is also full of dangers. About two weeks ago a house was burned down here in Bima. Not all houses are made of brick in Bima, many houses are also made of wood. But the danger of fireworks appears not to be fully realised in this city. Because I already see small children from 5 to 6 years old playing with fireworks.

Many people have all kind of excuses

When I did fasting for the first time in Bima a few years ago, I was impressed how many people have all kinds of excuses not to do fasting. A small cough or a small wound in the most invisible place is sometimes enough to say that they are sick that day and therefore do not need to do fasting. Often I also see people in my surrounding area secretly somewhere behind a corner to eat a small bite or drink something so that their neighbours would not see, because what should those neighbours otherwise think of them. I often think that the neighbours may sometimes do the same. If people had stopped eating or drinking one minute too late in the morning, then I often hear that they eat and drink all day long, because that day the fast could not be longer successful. But many will never admit to the neighbours that they are not fasting that day. Sometimes it's just funny.

People pray together during Eid al-Fitr in a central place.

With the entire family at the feast during Eid al-Fitr.

During Ramadan there are ten times more people in the mosque than on other Fridays throughout the year. Sometimes this reminds me a bit of Christmas and Easter in my home country Belgium, many are Catholic in Belgium but a little more during these holidays - these two holidays the church is also full, and the rest of the year it remains almost empty.

A complete new outfit for very cheap prices

But there's something magical about Idul Fitri. Almost all Muslims gather in various central places in the city to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Parents, children, grandparents… all are present in their best outfit. Clothing often bought new at the end of Ramadan for this special holiday. Therefore there's a special market where you can buy a completely new outfit for very cheap prices. Early in the morning with Eid al-Fitr, thousands of people pray together in these central places. This gives an enormous power of togetherness. Afterwards, many also go to the cemetery to greet their dead loved ones and then there is a party at home with all kinds of sweets. All these yummy sweet things were baked and prepared the days before together with family and friends.

Freshly slaughtered chicken that is cleaned and immediately will be served as a festive meal during Eid al-Fitr.

Preparation of the fresh chicken.

These are things I often miss in the distant Europe. Many live side by side in Europe and no longer with each other. My Indonesian sister-in-law who lives in Belgium can't understand this. But for many Western people this has now become obvious. And myself, I try to have a good mix of both cultures - in Belgium a little bit of Indonesian customs and in Indonesia a little bit of Belgian customs.

Hanan
Always curious about life, culture and people

Hanan: text, photo • 9 July 2016

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