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Idul Fitri
 In Indonesia the feast is named Hari Raya Idul Fitri or informally, Lebaran. Hari Raya literally means The Great Day of (Celebration) . Sometimes, there are different statements on when the day falls, especially between Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, because people use different techniques to determine it. Almost all of the people follow the government of Indonesia's statement and such differences do not get in the way of people celebrating. This event is recognized as a national holiday, starts a few days before Idul Fitri, and lasts until days after it. Schools also have different schedules for the holiday as many Islamic schools usually make it a longer holiday.
Muslims in Indonesia usually ask forgiveness from their relatives and friends after the special prayer. Another interesting Eid ul-Fitr tradition in Indonesia is mudik that usually applies to urbanites who came to Jakarta from the other provinces of Java or other islands in Indonesia. Before Eid ul-Fitr comes, people will go back to their hometowns where their relatives, sometimes including their parents, reside. This event often causes crowding in airports, seaports, and bus stations while some who are traveling by car are trapped in the traffic jam for hours. For little children, asking for money as well as forgiveness from relatives is common to motivate them. Many, especially in the cities, also use the term angpau for the money just like Chinese people do.
It is common to greet people with "Selamat Hari Raya" which means "Happy Eid". Muslims also greet one another with "Mohon maaf lahir dan batin" which means "Forgive my physical and emotional (wrongdoings)", due to the fact that Idul Fitri is not only for celebrations, but also the time for Muslims to cleanse their sins and strengthen their silaturrahim with relatives and friends. The term "fitr" in Idul Fitri, coincides with the word "fitrah" of the Indonesian language which means the purity of birth, just as babies are pure when they were born. Many Indonesian muslims acknowledge that on the day of Eid when they forgive each other, their sins with each other are cleansed and they are without sin just as they were at birth. Another term in addition to "Mohon maaf lahir dan batin" mentioned earlier, is "minal aidzin wal faidzin" (alternate spelling, minal aizin wal faizin) . The origin of this phrase is suspectedly Arabic and has loosed meaning of "may you be part of the people who return to purity and part of the people who are granted glory"[3]. The latter phrase is usually used in conjunction of the former; thusly, "Minal aidzin wal faidzin, mohon maaf lahir dan batin."
At the night of the last day of Ramadan, Indonesians usually do 'Takbiran'. Takbiran is a big celebration where people, from little children to old men, recite the takbir with a microphone in a parade. They travel around the town and usually they hit 'bedug', a large drum, as a background music of the takbir.
Lebaran Topat
Date: 31 October
Venue: Senggigi
Topat is an important cultural event for Lombok's Moslems. Held on the seventh day after Idul Fitri, family and friends gather to pray together fo happiness and prosperity. Afterwards they celebrate together by eating traditional "Topat", rice wrapped in parcels of plaited coconut leaves and boiled, along with a variety of side dishes. The beach just south of Senggigi is a popular place for picnics and people from all around the island will come to celebrate there.
Mulang Pekelem, Mt Rinjani
Date: 5 November
Venue: Senaru
Pekelem is a tradition practiced by the many Balinese Hindus living in Lombok since ancient times until now. Every year on the full moon in either October or November, thousands of people will make the pilgrimage to lake Segara Anak, in Mt Rinjani's crater, to throw offerings of gold and other precious symbols into the waters as an expression of gratitude to God and to ask for his blessing. Pilgrims from all over Lombok and Bali will gather at Senaru to make the trek up the mountain for this holy event.
Perang Topat
Date: 5 December
Venue: Lingsar
This ceremony is usually held every year at the time of the sixth full moon in the Sasak calendar (either November or December). Both Balinese Hindus and Sasaks come to Lingsar to pray for good crops, rain and fertility, before engaging in a mock war with each other. The actual "war" involves participants throwing "topat", parcels of rice wrapped in woven coconut leaves and boiled at each other, amid much good fun and frivolity.
Related Link:
Lebaran Topat
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