Preparation for Eid Mubarak!

Assalammu'alaikum...

Happy Eid Mubarak! Okay. I know, I'm very very very very very late to posting some blogs (too busy to do that). Anyway, I have to tell you that...I will not doing my Eid Mubarak prayer, because I'm having my period. That is so sad. :'( But, that doesn't mean I'm not prepared for Eid. Especially, in my house we are doing open house. It's like party, but we were just hanging out with our big family.

Also, I want to shared you my family tradition when Eid Mubarak comes. But, before that, there's one of Indonesia Eid Mubarak traditions that my families never do. Mudik (it means, return to our home town or city to celebrate with their families and to ask forgiveness from parents, in-laws, and other elders). Because, most of my families lived in Jakarta. Except, for one of my Aunt and my Uncle. They lived in Bandung, West Java. And, they come to Jakarta to celebrate Eid Mubarak. And, this is our tradition:

1. Buying new clothes and new shoes (and for me, new hijab).

Every Indonesian, will definitely buy some new clothes and some new shoes. This is a must for us. Because, the meaning of Eid Mubarak or Eid al-Fitr is The Day of Victory. The point is that after the victory of our hunger, thirst, lust, and anger for one full month (approximately 29-30 days) in the month of Ramadan. And, Eid Mubarak is when our soul is become a new soul like a newborn baby.

Shopping malls and bazaars in Indonesia are usually filled with people to get things for Lebaran such as; new clothes, shoes, sandals even food to serve days ahead of Idul Fitri or Lebaran (that is what Indonesian said for Eid Mubarak), which creates a distinctive festive atmosphere throughout the country, along with traffic mayhem (to be honest, I hate the traffic mayhem. -_-'). So me, my Mom, and my little sister will buy some new clothes and new shoes at the Shopping Center in Jakarta before they closed. I also bought some new hijab.

2. Takbiran.

Indonesian called the night before Idul Fitri is takbiran, it is filled with the sounds of many muezzin chanting the takbir in the mosques or musallahs, people usually fill the street and also chanting takbir. In many parts of Indonesia, especially in the rural areas, pelita (oil lamps, similar to tiki torches) are lit up and placed outside and around homes. Also, during takbiran, people usually light various firecrackers or fireworks.

3. Family Gathering.

(I can't showed the pictures, because I don't have one). On Lebaran day, after we doing Eid prayer in the morning, we dressed in our best or new clothes will gather on our house to greet our big family and our neighbours. We always greet one another with "Mohon Maaf Lahir dan Batin" or in English "Forgive my physical and emotional (wrongdoings)", because Idul Fitri is not only for celebrations but also a time for atonement to ask for forgiveness for sins which they may have committed but was cleansed as a result of the fasting in the Muslim month of Ramadan.

4. Eid Mubarak meals.

My family usually have special Lebaran meals; special dishes will be served such as ketupat, chicken opor, (my favorite) beef semur, and various cookies, kue, and candies during this day. So, do not ask me. Because, surely all of this food has run out. :D

5. Visit the graves.

We usually visit the graves of our loved ones. During this visit, we will clean the grave and recite Yaseen. We always did this. And, it also makes me sad. Because, they will never be in this world to watching me married with my future husband. :'( But, I had to move on. Like it or not. I believe, they don't want to see me sad. Never.

I hope you like this article and I hope you enjoy to read it. Finally, I will said one more time. Taqaballahu minna wa minkum, taqaballahu ya kareem. Happy Eid Mubarak, everyone! Wassalammu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.