Rafed English
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Indonesia is a group of small and different islands, hence the culture within Indonesia varies with the diversity of those islands, for example, Jawa Island has different culture than Sumatra, so is the tradition is different in Sualaweiszi and Kalimantan isles. In general, there could be some university between the norms of those places even the names of the traditions differ in some occasions.

The ways Indonesians embrace Ramadan every year:

Ramadan is a special occasion for Indonesian Moslems. They observe for it as if it is a dear guest coming back every lunar year. And this is reflected by Indonesian having their streets garmented with Ramadan symbols and special light in some parts of their cities. The clean their place and the public areas especially mosques, mosques serve as places for giving congratulations with the upcoming Ramadan month, they are also the places where Moslems giving their Tarawih Prayer which is a remarkable prayer for the sacred month or Ramadan. Mosques are often used for preaching and
teaching Quran.

Dorderan or Dandangan is the typical Shaaban Month Souq (Carnival), which is a big celebration in which people can do their shopping for Ramadan life food, games. Dorderan is always held in front of the Municipalities or in public parks.

For the social side, families do exchange foods, gifts and remedies during Ramadan, usually those trades are home made, they are meant for sharing. The beginning of Ramadan season is a holiday between 3-5 days for all Moslems, they use this time-off work to exchange visits and give blesses
with the star of the holly Ramadan season. This sacred month is characterized by a noticeable plunge in number of crimes, and signs of sin are disappeared for example night clubs and discos close during the whole month of Ramadan. People in Indonesia, by instinct use this change to seed forgiveness from Allah Almighty, and they also seed forgiveness from people. There often a special schedule made for Ramadan preaching and Islamic lectures throughout the whole sacred month.

It is a habit that some Indonesian schools give a holiday for all its students and cadres during Ramadan, this is for students will use their time praying and seeking blesses or this holly season. Some schools might reduce the number or time of lesson. There could be a special “Pesantren Kilat”.
Ceremony which is a special time for Islam schools and madrasas, in which students are offered a fully day activities special to Ramadan including (Iftar ceremony, Islamic ceremonies, lectures and preaching lessons derived from Indonesian students during Ramadan throughout history. Syudents often are offer teenage guidance and teaching about how to handle life and tough challenges being Moslem adolescents in secondary school remarkably.

Ramadan celebrations of Quran and poetry carnivals are more seen in higher schools and universities. Quran and its interpretation is most typical subject of those ceremonies. Working hours are reduced. People always come late to work than usual and they also go home early.

In Indonesia, Mosques always has lessons and lectures of the Quran after the Asr (afternoon ) prayer. Taraweeh prayer the number of kneels and prostrations (Rakaats) vary between eight to twenty prostrations (Rakaats).

During this sacred season Prizes are given for those exceptional with reciting (Tajweed) and memorizing Quran. Local television stations and papers get more active about subjects pertaining to the holly month including special Ramadan programs, among which is the kuis Ramadan which is basically a season for gathering Zakat (charity) and distributing them for the needy.

The last ten days of Ramadan are the most remarkable, people get more active for prayers and always move to mosques in large numbers, they often do Ea 'tikaf (feast from sins and all signs of luxury) in which they stagnate in the mosques just asking blesses and prayer till sunrise.

Indonesian traditions of Ramadan always have special dishes, they are called Ketupat, Ketupat differs from a region to another but they are almost alike in all places, they all are water-boiled rice with singer leaves. Some food dishes are used to signal forgiveness and seeking peace with others.

In Eid Al-fiter Ceremony, which is the first day of Shawwal month coming after Ramadan in lunar hijri calendar, is a day when people give special prayer and the celebrate the defeat of evil and sins. People exchange visits and entertainments throughout the first through the third day of Shawwal. Some place celebrate after seven days of Shawal which is preceded by fasting six days voluntarily of the Shawwal month.