Eid holiday tradition spurs Indonesia’s economy as tens millions of Muslims travel home

By NINIEK KARMINI
Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is being celebrated by Muslims with family reunions, new clothes and sweet treats. In Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, nearly three-quarters of the population were traveling for the annual homecoming known locally as “mudik” that is always welcomed with excitement. One traveler heading home from the Jakarta area said mudik was a moment to reconnect, “like recharging energy that has been drained almost a year away from home.” At morning prayers in Jakarta on Wednesday, preachers in their sermons also called on people to pray for Muslims in Gaza who were suffering after six months of war.