By, Naulah Syakirah Lubabah Hasbi
Hello! I’m Syakirah.
I would like to share my experience of balik kampung to celebrate Hari Raya (or Lebaran in Indonesia). Everyone must be super excited, right? You know what? I was so excited that I actually missed my flight! Haha. Can you imagine the panic when I realized the plane had taken off without me? Luckily, I managed to get another flight and finally made it home to Jakarta. But this year’s balik kampung was different—I had only one week before returning to Malaysia for my studies. Even though it was short, I cherished every moment.
What makes Lebaran in Jakarta special?
As a proud Betawi, Lebaran is about visiting family, friends, and neighbours during the whole month of Syawal. Lebaran is not just a day for me – it is much more than that. One of the things we bring with us when visiting someone is gawan, a surprise bag filled with biscuits, cakes, or other snacks. It is a great act of appreciation and strengthens the ties between families. Sights of tables filled with gawan from various hosts are indeed heart-warming.
With whom do we celebrate? Well, Lebaran is a family affair. Upon my landing at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, my relatives welcomed me with all sorts of hugging and questions: “How are your studies?” “Are you eating fine?” Good to be home. The best moments are spent gathering, sharing stories, and having homemade Betawi dishes like ketupat sayur, semur daging, and kue biji ketapang.
When does the celebration start?
Long before Eid celebrations begin, we begin to prepare the night before Lebaran. We cook, decorate the house, and make our home ready for guests. The next renewal after Eid prayer is to go and pay our respect first to our elders, followed by asking for forgiveness. This practice, known as sungkeman, is a moment filled with emotional weight as gratitude is expressed and blessings are sought.
Where do we go during Lebaran?
Back home after the celebration? That is when our silaturahmi (building bonds or affiliations with others) journey starts, from one house to another. Every visit means meeting more family members, having more delicious foods, and adding another gawan! It goes on, along the lines of laughter, storytelling, and connecting with relatives that we haven’t seen for far too long.
Why is this year different?
My balik kampung this year was bittersweet. Unlike previous years where I could stay longer, this time, I only had one week until having to return to Malaysia. To leave my family having spent so few days with them was painful. It was a great feeling to spend time with them, making me feel ‘charged.’ Yet, it was still not enough. I even had the thought of leaving behind the warm embrace of home and returning to academic life, which made it tougher.
How did I feel about leaving?
As I packed up the last bag filled with oleh-oleh (souvenirs) and my mom reminded me for the hundredth time to take care of myself, I was not immune to the wave of emotion. I strode boldly through the departure gate, promising myself that next year I would stay longer. Because no matter the distance, returning home from the city will forever be a journey of love, memories, and a persistent reminder of where we belong.***
