Festivals & Events

1. Lebaran

   Lebaran (the Eid holiday)

   Usage

   Name for the Muslim holiday, especially Idulfitri after the fasting month

   Grammar Note

   Travel is crowded because of mudik (homecoming); arrange tickets and transport days ahead

2. Idulfitri

   Idulfitri (Eid al-Fitr)

   Usage

   Holiday marking the end of Ramadan, on the first of Syawal in the Islamic calendar

   Grammar Note

   In daily speech people mostly say Lebaran

3. Iduladha

   Iduladha (Eid al-Adha)

   Usage

   Holiday on the 10th of Dulhijah, when animals are sacrificed and shared

   Grammar Note

   About 70 days after Idulfitri

4. Muludan

   Muludan (Prophet’s birthday)

   Usage

   Day marking the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, on the 12th of Rabiul Awal

   Grammar Note

   At the Kasepuhan palace in Cirebon, Panjang Jimat is held at this time

5. Ramadan

   Ramadan (fasting month)

   Usage

   Ninth month of the Islamic calendar, with fasting from dawn to sunset

   Grammar Note

   Shops may close or change hours by day; eat and drink discreetly in public

6. Ngabuburit

   Ngabuburit (waiting for sunset during Ramadan)

   Usage

   Habit of passing the hours before sunset prayer in Ramadan with walks, shopping or other activities

   Grammar Note

   A Sundanese word now used all over Indonesia

7. Puasa

   Puasa (fasting)

   Usage

   Abstaining from food and drink for a set time; usually the Ramadan fast

   Grammar Note

   Preparations for the holiday begin as Ramadan nears its end

8. Panjat pinang

   Panjat pinang (greasy pole climbing)

   Usage

   Game of climbing a tall pole hung with prizes, common in Independence Day events

   Grammar Note

   Often seen around 17 August; watching is free, but join only after asking the organisers

9. Pasar malem

   Pasar malem (night market)

   Usage

   Night market held for a limited time with food, games and goods stalls

   Grammar Note

   Pasar is market and malem is night; ask prices before buying

10. Waisak

    Waisak (Buddhist holy day)

    Usage

    Buddhist holy day commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha

    Grammar Note

    A public holiday; the best-known ceremony is at Borobudur in Central Java

11. Hajat laut

    Hajat laut (sea thanksgiving ritual)

    Usage

    Annual tradition in southern coastal fishing villages to give thanks for the sea and the catch

    Grammar Note

    It is sometimes linked with Nyi Roro Kidul, said to rule the southern sea; observe politely

12. Ngarot

    Ngarot (ritual before planting)

    Usage

    Traditional ceremony in Lelea village, Indramayu, before the planting season

    Grammar Note

    Held around October to December at the start of the rainy season

13. Nyangku

    Nyangku (Panjalu ritual)

    Usage

    Traditional ceremony in Panjalu, Ciamis, in which royal heirlooms are cleaned

    Grammar Note

    Handed down across generations as a ritual of ancestral heirlooms

14. Ruwatan

    Ruwatan (purification ritual)

    Usage

    Traditional ceremony to remove misfortune; also called ngaruwat

    Grammar Note

    Ngaruwat is Sundanese for purifying; some rituals pray for the safety of a village or nation

15. Seren taun

    Seren taun (rice harvest festival)

    Usage

    Sundanese rice harvest festival held in traditional villages such as Urug and Sirnaresmi

    Grammar Note

    Dates differ by village; ask locally before planning a visit

16. Sisingaan

    Sisingaan (lion-figure procession)

    Usage

    Folk art of Subang: four bearers carry a lion figure with a child on top in a procession

    Grammar Note

    Accompanied by drums (kendang) and a horn (tarompét)

17. Burokan

    Burokan (Cirebon procession art)

    Usage

    Popular procession art of Cirebon

    Grammar Note

    Seen at celebrations; as it is Cirebonese culture, locals may speak Cirebonese

18. Upacara Panjang Jimat

    Panjang Jimat ceremony

    Usage

    Traditional ceremony held at the Kasepuhan palace in Cirebon at Muludan

    Grammar Note

    A palace event; follow the organisers on access and dress

19. Tutunggulan

    Tutunggulan (rhythmic rice pounding)

    Usage

    Tradition where women strike a mortar with pestles to make rhythm, announcing a celebration

    Grammar Note

    From tunggul; it was done some days before a celebration to let neighbours know

20. Poé Indung

    Mother’s Day (Poé Indung)

    Usage

    Day honouring mothers; in Indonesia it is on 22 December

    Grammar Note

    Poé means day and indung means mother; é = /e/

21. Wilujeng Lebaran!

    Happy Lebaran!

    Usage

    Greeting exchanged at Lebaran time

    Grammar Note

    Wilujeng is a polite word of greeting; the Lebaran combination is a composed greeting

22. Hapunten lahir jeung batin.

    Please forgive me, inwardly and outwardly (Lebaran greeting).

    Usage

    Apology exchanged at Lebaran, where people ask each other for forgiveness

    Grammar Note

    Hapunten is a polite sorry; lahir jeung batin means outwardly and inwardly

23. Iraha upacara ieu dimimitian?

    When does this ceremony start?

    Usage

    Asking when a ceremony or event begins

    Grammar Note

    Iraha means when; dimimitian is the passive of mimiti, to begin

24. Naha wisatawan tiasa ningali upacara ieu?

    Can tourists watch this ceremony?

    Usage

    Checking with organisers or villagers before watching

    Grammar Note

    Naha opens a yes-no question; ningali means to see

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