Goresan Tinta Theola

     After all the Eid activities were done, we finally stayed home to recharge our energy. It was not just a regular kind of tired, it was the type of exhaustion that made you feel like you had not slept in days. Just imagine it, traveling from one city to another in such a short amount of time. Especially my dad, who had taken on the heroic role of driving us everywhere. He was practically our personal chauffeur throughout the whole Eid al-Fitri season. He drove from Bali to Malang, then from Malang to Tuban, from Tuban to Pekalongan, and finally back to Malang again. Each trip was long, crowded, and filled with traffic, especially with so many other families doing the same Lebaran routine, visiting relatives and traveling back to hometowns. What amazed me the most was that my dad barely complained. Sure, he looked exhausted and had visible eye bags the size of small bags of rice, but he kept going. He would just down a cup of coffee, stretch a little, and th...

 After nearly a week of celebrating Eid in Pekalongan with my dad’s side of the family, I finally returned to Malang. The excitement of Eid had barely settled when it was already time for another round of silaturahmi , this time with my mom’s side of the family. The timing felt almost too perfect. As soon as one celebration ended, another was waiting. But honestly, that’s the beauty of Eid: it stretches, lingers, and wraps you in togetherness for days on end. The reason we headed back to Malang right away was because of the annual family halal bihalal , it is a tradition deeply rooted in Indonesian culture where extended family members gather after Eid to reconcile, catch up, and strengthen bonds. This particular event was with my grandmother’s extended family, my mom’s mom’s side. And let me tell you, if you think one side of the family is already big, this one is just as massive. It all began with my great-grandparents, just the two of them, starting a humble life toget...

     Firstly, we left Pekalongan on Saturday around 11:30 AM. The original plan was to hit the road at 6 in the morning, to avoid the heat and hopefully arrive home earlier. But well, plans are often just that plan. Reality? Everyone was still lounging around and hadn’t even got out of bed. And to be honest, I was one of them too—haha. I mean, how could I not be? I’d only gone to bed at around 3 AM the night before because I was watching movies with my aunt and brother. We were staying at my aunt’s place on Panjang Street, and the atmosphere there was just too perfect for a late-night hangout. It had been so long since we all gathered like that, so it felt too precious to pass up. The movie we watched was exciting too, which made it even harder to walk away from the screen. So, as you might guess, the next morning everyone woke up late and our departure got delayed until well past 11 AM. Before leaving, of course, we said our goodbyes to the extended family in P...

     On the second day of Eid, as usual, my dad’s side of the family had a yearly ritual: going around for silaturahmi —visiting relatives to reconnect and ask for forgiveness. We always made a list of which houses to visit, and this year, our main destinations were my dad’s two younger brothers: Uncle Ryan and Uncle Didin. Uncle Ryan is the seventh child of my grandparents and lives in Batang. Meanwhile, Uncle Didin, the third child, lives in Pekajangan, still within Pekalongan City. Though both places are relatively close to each other, the trips can be pretty exhausting. Especially during Eid, when traffic is often thick enough to make you sigh in resignation. The house was already buzzing in the early morning. Mom was busy pacing around, checking bags, gift baskets, and snacks to bring along. Dad was outside prepping the car, occasionally calling me out to help. And me? I was still lounging in the living room, scrolling through my phone, trying to catch the ...

     I am a student studying in Surabaya and I am a migrant in this city. As the last days of the fasting month approach, it is time for me to return to my hometown, Malang. But I did not celebrate Eid al-Fitr this year in Malang, but in another city that I haven’t visited for almost 3 years, that is Pekalongan. The day I returned to Malang first, I took the train and at that time the station was very crowded unlike usual. People flock to return to their respective homes or to their hometowns to meet, gather, and celebrate Eid with the families they have missed all along. We who usually enter the train car comfortably, had to be crowded that day because of the crowd of passengers. But it doesn’t upset me because it shows the enthusiasm of the people to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. And two days before Eid al-Fitr, I decided to visit my family’s hometown, especially my dad’s family in Pekalongan, a city located in the heart of Central Java, Indonesia. The excitement of c...