Each country has different cultures and traditions in many ways, including in how to celebrate the Eid. As we know, in Indonesia, Eid is welcomed with great fanfare. Common traditions include, going home, going out with family, and giving a holiday allowance.
In addition, the happy moment is identical to the diamond as a special food of Eid. Other foods such as rendang, chicken opor, and ati fried sambal also enlivened the meal with the beloved family on that day.
This is the Lebaran tradition in Indonesia, so what about tradition in other countries? Here are some unique traditions carried out during Eid in various other countries in Asia.
1. Malaysia
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The closest neighboring country to Indonesia has a tradition of celebrating Eid that is similar to Indonesia. This can be seen from the typical Lebaran food treats in Malaysia, such as rhombus and rendang. In Malaysia there is also the concept of going home to a hometown or better known as “turning home” by the local community.
Furthermore, Malaysians also make friends with relatives, where the younger ones pay respect to the older ones. There is also a tradition of people who have worked or have income giving gifts in the form of money to children. Apart from that, they went on a pilgrimage to the graves of relatives.
2. Saudi Arabia
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People in Saudi Arabia usually celebrate the Eid holiday by holding art shows such as theater performances, poetry readings, music parades, dance, and various other arts shows. It aims to enliven the day that has been waiting for the community for a year. In addition, usually they will decorate their homes with typical Lebaran decorations.
In Saudi Arabia, the Lebaran celebration starts with Eid prayer, then eats with family. After that, they went to visit and stay in touch with relatives and neighbors. Lebaran special food that is always available at the dinner table is lamb mixed with rice, plus traditional vegetables. Do you want to try the food?
3. Turkey
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In Turkey, Eid al-Fitr is referred to as “Bayram”. At the celebration, people will wear typical clothes called Bayramlik. They celebrated by giving greetings to each other as a Lebaran greeting that reads, “Bayraminiz Kutlu Olsun”, “Mutlu Bayramlar”, or “Bayraminiz Mubarek Olsun”. The three greetings mean almost the same, which is happy to celebrate the Feast of Bayram.
Same with Indonesia, the younger ones will pay respect to the older ones by kissing their hands or prostrating in front of them. Then they will also go from house to house to give Bayram greetings and prayers.
In return, they will be given gifts in the form of chocolate, candy, coins, or traditional Turkish foods such as Lokum and Baklava. There is one thing that is unique in the celebration of Eid in Turkey, namely only men who will go to the mosque to perform Eid prayer, while women only stay at home.
4. China
In China, the festive celebrations of Eid al-Fitr are most felt in the Xinjiang and Yunnan regions. This is because these two regions are inhabited by people who are predominantly Muslim. As usual, after the Eid prayer, Muslims in China will stay in touch and eat together with family and closest neighbors.
After visiting, they will visit the tombs of ancestors or the tombs of local Muslim leaders to make pilgrimages and cleanse, while reciting prayers to them. The prayer was also intended for Muslims who died during the reign of the Qing Dynasty and the Cultural Revolution.
On this feast day, they will wear the typical Lebaran clothes, that is, for the men will wear a distinctive suit and a white skullcap, while the women will wear warm clothes and a veil. Did you know that koko clothes as Muslim clothes come from China.
5. India
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When Eid Al-Fitr arrives, the Muslim community in India will perform Eid prayer at the mosque which is the center of the Eid-ul-Fitr gathering in New Delhi. They will perform Eid prayer together, after which they will talk while eating the special dishes of Lebaran area.
In contrast to Indonesia, which consists of rhombus and other complementary foods, India has a special food called Siwaiyaan. Siwaiyaan is a mixture of sweet vermicelli served with milk and dried fruits. This is a food that must exist at the time of Eid in India.
6. Japanese
During Eid al-Fitr in Japan, Muslims there celebrate Lebaran with Eid prayer first. For those in the Tokyo area and beyond, they will flock to the Camii Mosque to pray in congregation. After that, stay in touch with each other and enjoy delicious food provided by the mosque committee.