Covid-19 Log: Day 76

It has been 76 days since the school closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And today is Idul Fitr day. One of the special days for Muslim in the whole world. It is always a big celebration after 30 days of Ramadhan. Unfortunately, it is not what happens today. 

It is true that this pandemic has transformed every aspect of human life, habits, daily routines, working, and studying. To survive the pandemic, human race needs to develop a new life style so called new normal, leaving home always wearing mask, approximate alert in public places, constantly washing hands, no hand shaking, and avoiding crowds. Now, the pandemic even has an impact on culture. Something which normally takes generations to transform.  

Let me tell you how it affects the way we, Muslim, celebrates Eid. I will tell you how people in my neighbourhood usually celebrate Idul Fitr, which generally is the same tradition in the whole country. A few days ahead, people will flood market ,the department store, shops, and grocery stores to buy all the things they need for the special day, such as clothes and food supplies for cooking special dish. This year, many people avoided to go shopping and did it online instead. Nevertheless, some people were so stupidly stubborn and ignored all the health protocol. They crowded the market, shops, department stores, and mall to get all things they want for Eid day amid the threat of the virus spread. This raise critics all over social media. We call this reckless action as irresponsible, stupid, and it is worthless. Though, it was not totally their fault. If the government has the guts to impose more strict quarantine policy, all this ridiculous euphoria would have never happened which can jeopardize the life of thousands of citizens.

On the Eid eve, we always have Takbiran. It is a tradition on the Eid eve when we recite takbir from the mosque and it is sounded all over the neighbourhood through a megaphone. Besides from the mosque, many people will recite takbir around the town on trucks. The Eid eve is always so festive that it brings joy and happiness to all Muslims in our region, and I believe in many other cities whenever such tradition is carried on. However, this tradition could not be carried on this year due to the pandemic. People are not allowed to recite takbir around the cities, though reciting takbir in the mosque and through megaphone is still allowed with limited participant in the mosque. This year Eid eve lost it festivities.

Eid day in my neighbourhood has been always a joyful and cheerful celebration every year ever since I was a little kid. Celebration is started in the morning by performing Eid prayer in the mosque. After Eid prayer, all the people will go around the village visiting each other houses. Special dish, cookies, and cakes will be served for the guests. The younger visit the elders in the neoghbourhood. We shake each other’s hands as a symbol of forgiving each other for every mistake that we might unconsciously made in the year ahead. The most joyous of all are the kids. When they visit from house to house, they are usually given some gift money by the hosts. Seeing cheers in the kids’ eyes whenever they receive small amount of money gives us joy as well. These are also the tradition that the pandemic has altered. We could only celebrate Eid with our own family in our own house. No visiting others, no neighbours coming to our house, and no kids cheerfully visit from house to house. Furthermore, this year, only some mosques are given permission to hold Eid prayer, those which are not in the red zone of pandemic. 

Idul Fitr is an annual moment when family or relatives who live far away will gather as one big family to celebrate. We cook special dish like chicken opor, rendang, ketupat, and many more. Then, we feast together. Moment like this is so valuable for every family. It radiates the feeling of joy, happiness, warm and closeness as a family. All in all, Idul Fitr is a family and community celebration.  Sadly, the pandemic has prevented this warm and joyful culture from happening too.

Covid-19 pandemic has changed every aspect of our life. Hopefully, this new normal is only temporary. I just cannot imagine not having freedom to leave house safely for the rest of my life, not being able to travel to beautiful places without being hunted by the virus, and the worst of all, letting go all the valuable cultures that has lived for generations. I believe that all this social chaos will come to an end. One day soon, Allah will lift this plague and brings back prosperous on Earth, for He is the Entirely Merciful and the Giver of Peace.