Millions of Indonesians Return Home for Idul Fitri

Jakarta, Indonesia - Millions of Indonesians have started to return to their homelands to celebrate the Islamic festivity, known as Eid el-Fitr, on Aug 30 and 31.

Airports, sea ports, bus terminals and train stations have been most crowded as masses have been flocking to them since this week. Authorities have forecast the peak of the exodus would be on the weekend.

Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, is a Muslim dominated nation, with most of its over 240 million people being Muslims.

"I have prepared for going home since days ago. I really insist to celebrate the Eid el-Fitr with my relatives in my hometown. I do not care about the condition during the journey," Warsito, a traveller, told a local media.

The government has determined to make three days ahead of the celebration and two days after it public holidays. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked transport operators to provide the best possible service to the travellers.

To facilitate the rush of passengers, transport, airlines, ships, bus and train operators have provided extra transport facilities.

Thousands of policemen, soldiers and paramedics have been deployed to help, according to officials.

The number of people returning to their homelands is forecast at over 16 million this year, according to data from the transport ministry.

Indonesia will celebrate the Islamic festivity along with other Islamic countries at the end of this month. But celebrating the festivity on homeland is a tradition for Muslims in Indonesia, an archipelago with over 17,500 islands.

"The number of people coming back to their homelands this year is forecast to row by 4.17 per cent," Transport Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan said.

Most people use buses, cars or motorcycles followed by trains, planes and ships to go home, Ervan told Xinhua by phone.

According to data from the transport ministry, the number of people going by bus, car or motorcycle is forecast at 9.03 million people this year, up 4.64 per cent; going by train at 2.917 million people, down 5.32 per cent; going by plane at 2.480 million people, up 15 per cent; and going by ship at 1.05 million people, up 6 per cent.

Indonesian Muslims have been performing the fast since Aug 1, during which demand for foods and clothing increases, with transport fares going up before and after the Islamic festivity.

Source: http://www.mysinchew.com

Photo: http://www.pontianakpost.com

Tuliskan komentar Anda !