Tanjungpinang Residents Start Hunting Canned Drinks Ahead Of Eid

TANJUNGPINANG - Residents of Tanjungpinang City, Riau Islands, have started hunting for canned drinks ahead of this year's Eid.

Romlah, one of the residents, in Tanjungpinang, bought two boxes of canned drinks without soda after two previous Eids he had not bought the drinks. Usually, neighbors and bosses at work also provide canned drinks. However, since Eid 2020 they have not provided canned drinks.

"This year, there have been no canned drinks that were given to me by neighbors or from the boss. I just bought two boxes of canned drinks for the guests. One box costs Rp. 98,000," he said, working in a construction shop, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, April 26.

Ani, another resident, who lives in Batu 9, also buys canned drinks at a supermarket in Tanjungpinang. "I bought a cardboard box that uses soda. The problem is that at home there are already two boxes of non-soda drinks, given by neighbors," he said.

Separately, Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad said the canned drinks served to guests who came to the house during Eid is a tradition that has been carried out for a long time.

The tradition of canned drinks has a positive impact on the social and economic life of the community.

"Now the tradition of canned water is re-emerging after two Eids, residents do not receive guests during Eid to prevent the transmission of COVID-19," he said.

An ethnic Chinese community leader, Bobby Jayanto, said that the tradition of canned drinks can increase the relationship between Muslims, as well as residents of other religions and Muslims.

Towards Lebaran, people from religions other than Islam usually give canned drinks to their neighbors who celebrate Eid. Then before the Chinese New Year, Christmas and New Year, Muslims give gifts in the form of canned drinks to neighbors or friends.

"Usually, entrepreneurs also give gifts of canned drinks to their colleagues," he said, who was born in Tanjungpinang.

According to him, the tradition of canned drinks is not found in other provinces. The tradition of this canned drink, when he was a child, did not exist.

"When I was a child, when I visited a neighbor's house celebrating Eid, there were no canned drinks, but bottled sodas. Then, changing to syrup water mother after bottles were hard to find. After 15-20 years ago, the tradition of canned drinks was born. "said the chairman of Commission I DPRD Riau Islands.