Jakarta, IO – Ramadan is just around the corner. Muslims around the world, including in Indonesia, are welcoming the holy month with joy. Ramadan is marked with many traditions, such as cleaning oneself, eating special dishes and doing facial treatments. Although the modes of celebration are different, the Ramadan welcoming traditions in Indonesia all have the same spirit. Compiled from various sources, below are the four traditions in Indonesia to welcome the fasting month.
- Padusan in Yogyakarta and Central Java
Padusan comes from the word “adus” (to bathe). It’s a tradition of bathing in pools at mosques. Muslims believe the practice will purify themselves, cleanse the body and soul so that they can perform their worship in a state of purity, both physically and mentally. Padusan is conducted one or two days before Ramadan.
- Malamang in West Sumatra
Malamang is the tradition where Muslims gather and cook with family or the whole village. The word itself means “cooking lamang,” sticky rice with coconut milk which has cooked in bamboo reed covered with banana leaves. The bamboo is grilled in firewood or coconut husk. It is said that this tradition began when Syekh Burhanuddin, a notable Islamic proselytizer in Minangkabau, visited local residents’ homes and advised the community to serve lamang to one another to avoid haram (forbidden) food.
- Mohibadaa in Gorontalo
This unique tradition is carried out by Gorontalo women to take care of their skin during Ramadan. They would apply mask made of rice flour mixed with spices such as bungale (bangle), alawahu (turmeric) and humopoto (galanga/aromatic ginger). This aims to keep the skin fresh and moist when fasting. If one prefers an instant method, one can get a packet of ready-to-use spices at the market for just Rp15,000.
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- Dandangan in Kudus
Dandangan refers to the sound of barrel drum at the Sunan Kudus Mosque when it is beaten to mark the beginning of fasting. At first it was a tradition where students gathered to hear an announcement from Sunan Kudus concerning the starting date of the fasting month. Now Dandangan has transformed into a bustling bazaar that sells various types of foods and crafts and where one can enjoy folk entertainment. (bp)