After fasting for a month, Muslims celebrate their victory joyfully on Eid al-Fitr. Just as Ramadan is welcomed with joy, Eid al-Fitr is also greeted with pleasure. Every region in Indonesia has its tradition of welcoming Eid al-Fitr.

When discussing the Eid tradition, we may immediately relate it to activities such as "mudik" (returning to one's hometown) and "sungkem" (apologizing and asking for blessings to obtain happiness and inner and outer safety from older people) as obligatory traditions during Eid. Both of them are a sacred moment to welcome Eid al-Fitr.

However, it turns out that Eid traditions in Indonesia are not just mudik and sungkem. Every region in Indonesia has unique Eid traditions according to the culture and beliefs carried out for generations. Every Eid tradition contains a beautiful and deep meaning. Here are some Eid traditions in various regions of Indonesia that are full of meaning:

Grebeg Syawal (Yogyakarta)

Grebeg Syawal is a tradition held every year to welcome Eid. This tradition originates from the Yogyakarta Palace and occurs every 1st of Syawal, or right on Eid al-Fitr. Grebeg Syawal is a form of gratitude after passing the month of Ramadan, and it has been implemented since the 16th century.

The attraction of the Grebeg Syawal tradition lies in seven "gunungan" (mountain-shaped structure) consisting of three "gunungan lanang/kakung", a "gunungan wadon/estri", a "gunungan darat", a "gunungan gepak" and a "gunungan pawuhan".

All the gunungans will be carried by courtiers and escorted by Bregodo soldiers from the North Square of the Yogyakarta Palace to the Grand Mosque of Kauman, Pura Pakualaman, and Kepatihan (Governor's Office). The gunungans will be prayed for first before people crowd and fight over them.

Photo: One of the sequences in the Perang Topat tradition to welcome Lebaran in NTB (Shutterstock/photone agus)

Perang Topat (West Nusa Tenggara)

In Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), there is a tradition of "Perang Topat" or "ketupat war" as a unique and meaningful way of welcoming Eid. According to tradition, throwing "ketupat" at each other symbolizes harmony between Hindus and Muslims who live side by side in Lombok.

Before the "war" begins, people will perform prayers and pilgrimages at the Loang Baloq Graveyard in the Tanjung Karang Beach area and the Bintaro Graveyard in the Bintaro Beach area. Uniquely, when the tradition begins, people will once again fight over the ketupats used for war because they believe they bring fertility and thus make the harvest abundant.

Ronjok Sayak (Bengkulu)

A unique Eid tradition in Indonesia is found in Bengkulu called Ronjok Sayak. The word "Sayak" can be interpreted as a coconut shell. In this tradition, dry coconut shells are stacked up to one meter high and then burned. According to belief, the Ronjok Sayak Eid tradition has existed for hundreds of years.

Bengkulu people believe that fire is a link between humans and their ancestors. That is why the Ronjok Sayak tradition takes place solemnly, accompanied by many prayers during the coconut shell burning process. Usually, people carry out the Ronjok Sayak tradition after the Isha prayer on the 1st of Syawal.

Binarundak (North Sulawesi)

The Motoboi Besar community in North Sulawesi also has a tradition of welcoming Eid as their ancestral heritage, which is still carried out and preserved today, namely Binarundak. It is a tradition of cooking "nasi jaha" together, carried out three consecutive days after Eid al-Fitr.

Nasi jaha is a typical North Sulawesi food made from rice and cooked in bamboo stem. This typical dish has a combination of savory flavors from coconut milk and quite strong ginger. According to belief, the Binarundak tradition of welcoming Eid is a means of friendship and gratitude to Allah SWT.

Festival Meriam Karbit (West Kalimantan)

West Kalimantan also has an Eid tradition that is no less unique and full of meaning, namely Festival Meriam Karbit (Carbide Cannon Festival). Slightly different from other traditions, this festival reminds residents of courage and fosters a spirit of togetherness.

This famous Eid festival is held for three consecutive days: before, on the day of, and after Eid. Interestingly, the Festival Meriam Karbit is not only an Eid tradition. It has a strong cultural heritage and historical value since it is related to the founding of Pontianak City.

So, what traditions do you have in your hometown, Sob?

Cover: Grebeg Syawal tradition in Yogyakarta which is routinely held to welcome Lebaran (Shutterstock/Ardiyanto_Nugroho)