It is approaching the last week of Ramadhan. Ritual activities in many mosques intensified as Muslims are laboring days and night to seek the greatest joy of Allah, in the form of 'Lailatul-qadr'.
Interestingly, the markets are also extremely busy. Most of hypermarts, traditional marketplace, 'pusat grosir' like Tanah Abang, Mangga Dua and virtually all retail activities across the country are enjoying their peak season. Buyers are stockpiling food items to welcome the day of Idul Fitri, where Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadhan and their becoming a new person (fitrah). Clothing and household items are another goods customers are buying.
Rich and poor are celebrating the Eid season with almost similar activities; i'tikaf, shopping and definitely, mudik.
If i'tikaf is entirely personal activity of pondering, evaluating and ta'abbud - taqarrub ilallah, shopping and mudik is largely communal. The whole nation is moved by this once-a year festival.
Economic activities are at its peak, airport, railway stations and port are at its busiest season.
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