Lebaran Gatherings

After about five years of absence for Lebaran Day in Indonesia, we finally made it this year to join our big family for the celebration! (Here is a short post from last year about our family tradition, in Indonesian). On Saturday, Oct 13th, my mother and an aunt left early in the morning (right after sunrise) to my other aunt's house - where the event took place - to help preparing food, room, etc. The rest of us started to come at about 09.30; kids went playing rightaway, women got busy in the kitchen and dining room, men talked among each other and/or listened to my grandma, who seemed to be in a jolly mood despite her decreasing ability to identify her own children, grand children and great grand children.

The dishes we had were clearly predictable but nonetheless are very much anticipated each year the moment comes. Ketupat, or 'squared rice', is a classic, accompanied by sambel goreng ati (spicy liver), opor ayam (chicken in coconut milk) and rendang (spicy beef). This year, my cousin Chica cooked sambel goreng udang (spicy prawn), repeating last year's success. It was a superb dish! Even I took more and more of it, despite my common reluctance to eat sambal or anything hot.
There was also sayur godog (soupy boiled veggies) and all sorts of condiments, not to mention desserts (mixed fruit salad, cakes, fresh fruits and more) and refreshments (the classic family fruit punch is always available!). Accompanied by the best of laugh with family and friends, Lebaran food can never taste better!

That day was also a milestone for our kids: it's their first time to do sungkem, or kneeling before the elderlies to ask for forgiveness and to receive prayers. Dhanu was hesitant, but his turn came much later (my mother was the second youngest of her siblings) so he could first watch and learn from the others who did their turns. I had to nail him down to his seat to watch the procession (which was fun, since almost everyone in the room were shouting advices as if coming from my grandma during one's turn) and went with him to face my grandma for his turn. Lindri was more easy for this; she was taken to my grandma by her father without needing too much encouragement, for she has seen everyone did the same. After the sungkem ritual was over, the kids' most-awaited moment came: 'envelope' distribution! I remember the days when it was our turn to receive them, the excitement and delight - and now it's our turn (those who are already parents) to give them away to nieces and nephews.            

Not long afterwards, we had to leave the house to go to my father's brother who also celebrates Idul Fitri, where my father's siblings and their families usually gather on Lebaran Day. Our program here usually includes more eating (for those with rubber stomach), more chatting and more laughing. Dhanu and Lindri got to meet and play with more aunts and uncles and distant cousins. All in all, it was a busy and tiring day, but we all had our fun.       

Happy Idul Fitri to all of you dear friends
May the new days bring us peace and happiness

Photos taken from Chica's Lebaran 2007 album (for her network only) - thanks, sepupu!