Pilgrims Packed Cemetery, Traffic Jam Inevitable

Three days ahead the Holy Month of Ramadan, the residents visiting cemeteries are increasing. As a result, congestion occurs around Jeruk Purut and Menteng Pulo Public Cemetery (TPU) in South Jakarta. The visitors’ vehicles parking on roadsides make the traffic around the cemeteries narrow down.

Currently there are 500 visitors visit the graves. Usually, the peak visit is on D-1 of Ramadan.  The visitors could reach 700-800 people visiting Jeruk Purut TPU

Sofyan, Jeruk Purut TPU board, Cilandak, said that every year ahead Ramadan, the visitors always visit their family’s graves. The visitors are estimated to rocket at D -1 of Ramadan to this 9,12 hectare cemetery which has a total of 10,865 graves.

"Currently there are 500 people visit the graves. Usually, the peak visit is on D-1 of Ramadan. The visitors could reach 700-800 people visiting Jeruk Purut TPU,” said Sofyan, Tuesday (6/24).

Cemetery Guards Handful with Income Ahead of Ramadan

Sofyan explained that to anticipate this visitors’ increasing, Jeruk Purut TPU management has prepared janitors, security officers, and parking area for visitors.

The same circumstance also occurs in Menteng Pulo TPU, Setia Budi, South Jakarta. There are around 1,500 visitors visiting the cemetery. Eventually on D-1 of Ramadan, the visitors are estimated to be double.

Sutrisno, one of the visitors, admitted that visiting family’s graves before Ramadan and Eid Fitri has become an obligation in his family. “We want to visit parents’ and other relatives’ graves for praying,” said Sutrisno.