Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The fasting month has come again this August and it means the time for Muslims all over the world to refrain from taking food and drinks between sunrise and sunset.

In Indonesia , the fasting month is welcomed very enthusiastically by people then race to upgrade their faith by conducting more prayers and do more good for society.

Not only upgrading faith, the fasting month in Indonesia is also marked with several unique rituals, namely exchanging gift parcels, holding family gatherings to break the fast , the homecoming season and open house during the Eid Fitr.

Ramadhan`s festive mood is not only felt by the local people but also by expatriates from other Islamic countries.

Ambassador of Jordan to Indonesia Mohammad Hassan Dawodieh said he enjoyed spending for the fifth time the fasting month in Indonesia.

He said the situation in both Indonesia and Jordan during the fasting month were always quiet and peaceful in which people liked to have pre-dawn meals and breaking the fast together. He said Jordanians highly respect the Ramadhan month by not providing food during the day. As for non-Muslims who did not fast, they did not eat or drink in public.

As to his most interesting experience when spending the fasting month in Indonesia, Ambassador Dawodieh said he was impressed by the open-house rituals conducted on the first day of Eid Fitr in Indonesia.

"The open-house ritual is a very good way to gather all relatives and friends in one place and let them greet one another while saying Happy Eid Fitr. I think this tradition can strengthen people-to-people relations as urged by Islamic teachings," said the ambassador.

Ambassador Dawodieh also said this year`s Ramadhan was special to him since he had a personal goal to lose weight during this month.

"Every kilogram of our weight needs seven miles of arterial, venous and capillary vessels to deliver blood to all parts of the body. But when one is overweight , the fat will hamper the vessels in delivering blood to our entire body and my metabolism will be disturbed. Fasting will help me lose weight and, at the same time, upgrade my faith in Allah SWT," he said.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Fariz N Mehdawi, said he liked the fasting month situation in Indonesia where people were all trying to do good for each other and seek the blessings of God Almighty Allah SWT.

"I can tell you that people in Indonesia when it comes to Islam, they are true believers. People do sincerely pray, not out of courtesy but to earn Allah`s blessing," he said.

Ambassador Mehdawi said he was also impressed by the open-house tradition on the first Eid Fitr day in Indonesia where people are hosting gatherings in their houses for relatives and friends.

"The open house ritual is very interesting. I think this is a good tradition where you go to an open house and you see a number of people you haven`t seen for years. It is also good that people want to open their house and spend that much of money to entertain their guest while sharing the joy of Eid Fitr with their community in a spirit of togetherness. This is a very good tradition although for us diplomats, we have to run all the time from one friend`s house to another which is challenging but fun," he said.

He added that he enjoyed spending Eid Fitr day in Jakarta because the city would be less crowded. He said "Eid Fitr holiday is good for people who go to their hometown, but even for those who do not go, they enjoy the departure of others from Jakarta."

The ambassador said he was also impressed by the Indonesian way of exchanging gift parcels saying that the parcels in the country were wrapped beautifully with various goods in them.

"We do have a similar tradition in Palestine , but in Indonesia , they have this special style of packaging the parcels with nice contents. It seems like everybody can add their personal touch to the parcels," he said.

Though enjoying Ramadhan and Eid Fitr celebrations in Indonesia , Ambassador Mehdawi admitted he was still missing spending the holy days back home in Palestine.

He explained Ramadhan in Palestine was all about togetherness. It could be seen from the tradition of receiving relatives and friends to break the fast together during Ramadhan.

"So if I am, for example, visiting my relative or brothers we will eat together at their place, the next day we will eat at my house and on another other day we will eat at another relative`s house. Basically, you don`t have to cook all the time, just once, and the rest you can eat at your relatives` houses. Everybody can also bring some dishes and share them with the rest of the family," he said.
(T.A051/F001/P003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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