Eid-ul-Fitr Clothing Shopping Tradition Rooted In Banten In The 15th Century

Photo illustration (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - The pandemic does not seem to be an obstacle for the community to get new clothes for Eid. The high desire to acquire a pair of two pairs of Eid clothes illustrates how strong this tradition is. This cannot be separated from the collective memory of the historical tradition of buying new clothes that has taken root since the 15th century in Banten.

A few days ago, the video of the crowded Pasar Anyar area, Bogor City, went viral. In the video, it is clear that the queue of motorbikes has caused traffic jams along the market road. The majority of them shop for Eid al-Fitr needs, including Eid clothes.

The local officials interviewed by Detik admitted that they were unhappy with this condition. Residents are actually afraid of the new corona virus, but the desire to buy Eid clothes overcomes their fear.

"They are actually afraid of corona. I asked (a) mother (if) was afraid of the corona. 'I'm afraid, sir,' he said. 'But what else, my son hasn't bought Lebaran clothes,'" said the Head of Satpol PP. Bogor City Agustiansyah.

Crowds of residents occur around Pasar Anyar, Bogor City. The majority, they shop for the needs of Lebaran. # Radarbogor #TerserahIndonesia #serah #Bogor #PSBB pic.twitter.com/xycdS4RBbI

- Radar Bogor (@radarbogorID) May 17, 2020

A similar incident also occurred in Ciamis, West Java. Precisely at the Sweet Market. In the middle of PSBB, the market was packed with visitors on Monday. There is no distance between visitors. In addition, there are also many traders who do not use masks.

"If it is nearing Eid, it will be crowded. Now it's not that crowded compared to last year. Maybe it's the plague. But compared to a few days before it is now crowded. Those who came bought Lebaran clothes, mostly for children, ”said Cicih, one of the traders, to Detik.

Turning to other areas, such crowds also recklessly occur in shopping centers in Ciledug. A few days ago a video of the density of CBD Mall Ciledug, Tangerang went viral on the internet. The majority of them invaded the mall to buy clothes for Eid.

The tradition of buying Eid clothes

People do have a long collective memory regarding the tradition of buying new things or new clothes before Eid. Marwati Poesponegoro and Nugroho Notosusanto in their book "Indonesian National History" noted that the tradition of buying new goods had even started in 1596 in Banten.

That century, Banten was under the auspices of the Sultanate of Banten which was the Islamic Kingdom. Religion and Islamic culture became the spirit of Banten society.

Meanwhile, before Lebaran, the majority of Banten residents are busy preparing new clothes. But at that time there were still a few people who bought new clothes, mostly only from the royal circle. Meanwhile, the majority of ordinary people only sew their own clothes to wear on Hari Raya.

To this day, the tradition of buying new clothes is still a routine ritual for Muslims before Eid. Even seeing the number of people who are desperate to shop during a pandemic could indicate that this tradition is getting stronger and more entrenched.