Sharing ‘Takjil’ to Boost Kinship

During the fasting month of Ramadan, non-Muslims in several areas are providing and distributing free takjil to Muslims. The aroma of takjil from residents of different faiths tightens the bonds of kinship.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

At least 400 orphans and a number of parents gathered at the Dhanagun Temple to pray and pray together before breaking the fast, Thursday (13/4/2024).

Adah Jubaedah, 50, and her two children were walking to Plaza Bogor on Jl. Suryakencana in Bogor, West Java, on Sunday (9/4/2023). This shopping center is only around 50 meters from Wihara Dhanagun (Hok Tek Bio). As she walked, a member of the vihara handed Adah a bag of free takjil(breaking-of-the-fast snacks)consisting of rice cakes, dates and es sirop selasih (basil seed syrup with ice).

Adah felt happy. With this gift, the housewife in Cisarua, Bogor, would not need to look for takjil to break her fast that day. Furthermore, finding takjil was often time-consuming.

Receiving takjil from adherents of other faiths was no problem. In Adah’s view, their good intention was the important thing. “If they have good intentions, the recipients will also feel pleased,” said Adah, who wore a yellow dress with a cream-colored headscarf.

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Around the same time, Erhua, 30, a worker at Wihara Dhanagun, could not conceal her hit after she had finished distributing the takjil bags in her basin. She shouted with joy while lifting the empty basin. She had finished passing out the takjil in just 20 minutes.

“We had been thinking of doing some good deed, but we didn’t know what. By distributing takjil, I’m glad, as I know how and have an opportunity to do this,” she said.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

Around 400 orphans and 200 children with disabilities break their fast together at the Dhanagun Temple, Bogor City, West Java, Thursday-Saturday (13-15/4/2023).

Hansen, the chairman of the Viharaga Dhanagun Youth Brotherhood (PMVDB), also shared the joy. He said that happiness filled his heart when distributing takjil.

“We are always taught to share and benefit [others]. Ramadan [this year] is the right moment. We are sharing with those who are fasting, sharing without any restrictions due to religious segmentation,” said Hansen.

The PMVDB initiated the distribution of free takjil at Wihara Dhanagun. On Sundays during the holy month of Ramadan, a total of 300 packages of takjil are distributed to the general public. Although the activity was initiated by the vihara’s youth group, it involves various parties, including vihara executives and workers.

Meanwhile, the takjil recipients have different backgrounds, such as drivers, public minivan passengers, ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers, shoppers, cyclists and motorcyclists.

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Besides sharing takjil consistently over the last five years, Wihara Dhanagun also arranged a breaking-of-the-fast gathering for orphans on Thursday (13/4/2023), to be followed with a gathering for disabled people on Saturday (15/4/2023).

In Bogor, the “City of Rain”, enjoying the distribution of free takjil and breaking-of-the-fast meals together exemplify the spirit of sharing in diversity.

At the same time, this reflects Bogor’s 17^th ranking in this year’s index of tolerant cities. Bogor is among the cities that have shown a significant increase in tolerance. In 2017, a survey by Setara Institute ranked Bogor 92^nd out of 94 cities for its tolerance.

KOMPAS/KRISTI D UTAMI

Hundreds of people lined up in the distribution of free takjil in the courtyard of the Santa Theresia Bongsari Catholic Church, West Semarang District, Semarang City, Central Java, Thursday (13/4/2023). The church routinely distributes takjil in the form of food and drinks every Thursday evening during Ramadan.

Sharing

Distributing free takjil and hosting breaking-of-the-fast gatherings are also among the services provided at Wihara Dharma Bakti in Glodok, West Jakarta, and the Bongsari Santa Theresia Catholic Church in Semarang, Central Java.

At Wihara Dharma Bakti, hundreds of residents line up every day for takjil. This has made vihara volunteers Hakim, 56, and her husband Tomi, 62, busy with passing out meals. Tomi distributes noodles while Hakim distributes drinks.

Hakim took a break after serving the food, gulping a cold drink and wiping the sweat dripping from her forehead.

For me it’s charity, [and] not to be missed.

They had distributed between 350 and 400 portions of food to the crowd in less than 15 minutes. Looking tired, the woman with creamy-white skin and slanted eyes was all smiles. “For me it’s charity, [and] not to be missed. As long as I have the time, I’m ready to help,” said the clothing trader.

One of the people Hakim had served was Endi Sugianti, 69, and her two grandchildren, Reza, 10 and Rafi, 7. She had heard about the vihara’s free takjil program the previous week. However, Endi could only drop by on Thursday afternoon (13/4/2023) because she had just received some money. The three traveled by public minivan from her rented house in Cengkareng, West Jakarta. She paid Rp 16,000 for the trip for three of them.

At first, Endi’s child opposed her traveling to the vihara. “’Why bother going that far at such a high cost?’” said Endi, recounting her child’s words.

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Yet she was determined. She wanted to take her grandchildren for a stroll and experience a different way to break their fast. At Wihara Dharma Bakti, she showed her grandchildren that having a different faith did not prevent sharing.

Meanwhile in Semarang, hundreds of people stood before the gates of Bongsari Santa Theresia Catholic Church on Thursday (13/4/2023). During Ramadan, the church distributes takjil to the public, especially disadvantaged residents.

Sujana, 55 and Sumarni, 51, a married couple from South Semarang district, said they were happy to receive the free food and drinks. “Thank God. The money that would have been spent on takjil can now be used to pay the water bill,” said Sumarni.

She felt grateful that there were still those willing to share their fortune with ordinary people like herself.

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.