Gathering With Equality and Without Interests

Silaturahmi (communal gatherings) strengthen the bonds of fraternity without barriers. Silaturahmi must be maintained not only during the during Idul Fitri 2023, but also onward.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Hundreds of homebound travelers waited at the Bandarmasih Passenger Terminal, Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan on D-6 Idul Fitri, Sunday (16/4/2023). The majority of prospective passengers on the ship bound for Surabaya, East Java do not yet have tickets because of difficulties buying tickets online.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Transportation Ministry forecasts that there will be 123.8 million homebound travelers in 2023. This number has increased by 44.79 percent compared with 2022, an increase of 85.5 million people.

The presence of homebound travelers to welcome Idul Fitri 2023 gives life to the true meaning of silaturahmi, that is, silaturahmi is not just a physical meeting, but also a strengthening of fraternity without ethnic, religious, racial and intergroup barriers, and which prevents conflicts and disputes in Indonesia.

With the lifting of social restrictions, people are flocking to their hometowns to reconnect with family and relatives. Not only to celebrate Idul Fitri, the community also wants to celebrate gathering again that had been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Culture, media and communication researcher from Pasundan University, Idi Subandy Ibrahim, contacted in Jakarta on Wednesday (12/4/2023), said the build up toward this year's homebound trip was more meaningful. Now the Covid-19 pandemic was under control, community activities were no longer limited by strict health protocols.

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After three years of restriction and inability to freely meet family and relatives, now people are free to have direct visits with loved ones. “Silaturahmi connects what is broken and strengthens what is tenuous, and reestablishes affection by forgiving and apologizing. Now we can feel more physical closeness to express our longing and tie friendships," said Idi.

Silaturahmi is a part of social life in Indonesia. In daily experience, community interactions are always colored by the values of togetherness, gotong royong (communal work) and silaturahmi.

Idi said that the momentum of silaturahmi during Idul Fitri 2023 must be maintained not only during the holidays, but also onward, particularly as Indonesia was entering a political year ahead of the 2024 general election.

Sincere silaturahmi must be humane and egalitarian, don't think of us as higher than other people.

In every contest, the polarization of society due to differences in political choices and views may occur. Idi hoped that the community would use the spirit of silaturahmi to achieve national unity. Therefore, he reminded that the silaturahmi that take place should be carried out sincerely without interest.

He criticized the term "political silaturahmi". The term, which is often used by politicians, was not included in the true spirit of silaturahmi because there is an element of interest. According to him, silaturahmi should be sincere without interest. “Perhaps, political silaturahmi can connect people, but the intention is political interests. Political interests only win and lose. Silaturahmi must return to its true meaning, which is sincere without interest," said Idi.

True silaturahmi also means equality. “It's very rare for leaders to stay in touch with their subordinates. This culture needs to change. Sincere silaturahmi must be humane and egalitarian, don't think of us as higher than other people," said Idi.

ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Homebound (mudik) travelers use motorbikes to cross Jalan Raya Kalimalang, Bekasi City, West Java, Sunday (16/4/2023). Mudik by motorbike is still the choice of some people.

Communication

Inayah Rohmaniyah, dean of the Ushuluddin and Islamic Thought school at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Yogyakarta, explained that silaturahmi functioned to strengthen human relations and repair those that were tenuous due to conflict. This is possible because space for communication is opened in the gatherings.

“Silaturahmi is an extraordinary cultural mechanism to resolve conflict. In our culture, silaturahmi requires meeting and forgiving one another. One way to unravel conflict that is quite effective is to communicate,” said Inayah.

Apart from that, silaturahmi also connects intergenerational ties and knows no discrimination. Silaturahmi opens the widest possible space for diversity, regardless of gender, race or religion.

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“Nothing can replace physical communication. [During the silaturahmi, gatherers] shake hands, hug, sungkem [bow] and apologize. This can be an effective social mechanism to restore family functions. After apologizing, people will feel lighter and with new enthusiasm," said Inayah.

Furthermore, silaturahmi can be used as social capital to push the nation-building agenda. According to him, so far many of the country’s problems stem from poor communication. Silaturahmi invites people with different understandings, beliefs and political views to meet, communicate and build harmony.

The rector of the International Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII) Komaruddin Hidayat at his office at the UIII Rectorate Building, Depok, on Friday (15/4), praised the relationship between religion and culture in Indonesia that has merged into a national character. In fact, he said, the government as a regulator had also facilitated the Idul Fitri homebound travel as an opportunity to celebrate the spiritual victory of Muslims.

Basically, our people value love for the village and family and want to share it with the villagers.

"From the beginning, the tradition of going home for lebaran was entirely the people's agenda without asking for the APBN [State Budget]. However, the government is facilitating this [movement] by providing infrastructure that facilitates silaturahmi," he said.

The silaturahmi during the homecoming tradition also encourages economic equality. Increasing economic development is a tradition of homebound travel. "Basically, our people value love for the village and family and want to share it with the villagers. This accommodative, flexible and humble character is considered capable of maintaining the integrity of the Indonesian nation," said Komaruddin.

This article was translated by Kurnia Siswo.