For Muslims in Hawaii, a multifaith, multiethnic and multinational lebaran feast (concluding the fasting month of Ramadhan) is not something unusual. As you can see in the pictures, they are mostly Muslims, but some probably Catholics, Protestants, Hindus, Buddhist, Confucians, Agnostics, spiritualists, and possibly atheists too, joined the Indonesia's lebaran feast on Saturday, October 28th, 2006, organized by PERMIAS-H. Both Indonesians and foreigners attended the festival. They came, ate, chatted, and enjoyed the day, and different kinds of food and drink (Indonesian, "American", "global", or "not clear enough from where" food). More joyfully, some people (who have the skill or simply have the courage) sang national, local or foreign songs, with some people dancing too. They shared stories, experiences, happiness, and talked about issues they deem important. Some people made jokes. They shaked hands, asking and giving forgiveness. Usually to ask forgiveness is difficult and to forgive is even more difficult, but during the lebaran, both are not that difficult.
This practice of a multifaith lebaran is truly enlightening. It is indeed revealing to the fact that most people have interacted with others regardless of religions, ethnicities, nationalities, etc, and the lebaran feast tradition seems to be a good opportunity for them to share sympathy and ask and give forgiveness, in case they have acted or said something hurting or insulting others, consciously or unconcsciously. People say "human errs", but the best human is the one who asks and gives forgiveness and then try not to repeat the same errors. Happy Lebaran! May God bless all of us.
M.Ali.
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