UNAIR NEWS – Eid holiday this year will not only become an occasion for apologizing to each other, visiting friends and family but also for recreation and building friendships. To people who do not celebrate Eid al Fitr in their hometown, this year could be a chance to celebrate Ramadan in other cities or countries.
UNAIR News editorial team had the chance to talk to Mona Al-Hadi, a postgraduate student of UNAIR from Yemen. Previously, Mona celebrated the Eid holiday in Indonesia because she was curious about the Eid al Fitr atmosphere here. The girl just arrived from Yemen three months ago to continue her study in Indonesia.
“Ramadan in Yemen is amazing. It’s as if you do not want the experience to end,” she stated while being asked about the atmosphere of Ramadan in her country.
According to the Faculty of Dental Medicine student, food that cannot be missed while breaking fast in Yemen are shafoot made from bread (lahoh) and milk or yogurt. Mona also mentioned some typical culinary from Yemen, such as rawani (egg cake), bint al-sahn (bread with honey sauce), samosa (fried or baked pastry with a meat and vegetable filling), or mahalabia (milk pudding).
To Mona, Yemen has a unique and warm Ramadan tradition. Mona mentioned the Ya nafs ma tishtahi moment held in Yemen a few days before Ramadan. On that occasion, friends and family gather and bring various food and drink, and they socialize. Meanwhile, in the silaturahmi culture, giving money, buying clothes, and eating Eid cookies in Indonesia also found in Yemen.
Eid holiday with Yemeni community
Although she did not spend Eid holiday with her family, the girl in the hijab did not feel lonely. Mona spent Eid al Fitr in Surabaya and Malang with the Yemeni student community and relatives in Indonesia. One activity they did was planting mangroves from the morning until the afternoon.
Mona did not forget to picnic with other students and brought typical food from Yemen, and did a tour on a boat. Sometimes, they played classic Yemen songs and danced together to create a Yemen-like atmosphere. Mona has considered her community as her own family.
“Even if we are coming from various cities in Yemen, in our hearts, we are connected as a big Yemeni family in Indonesia. This day will not be forgotten,” she remembered.
After this Eid holiday, Mona awaited for in-person meeting with the lecturers and other postgraduate students. It will give her opportunities to share ideas and do activities together. (*)
Author: Deanita Nurkhalisa
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
