With the start of Ramadhan only a few days away, Jakartans are flocking to public cemeteries to perform the ritual of visiting the graves of their loved ones before the fasting month.

"It's like a tradition ahead of Ramadan

It can be seen from Tegal Alur and Utan Jati public cemeteries in Kalideres Sub-district. Because of the crowds of pilgrims, the traffic around the cemetery experienced long traffic jams.

As quoted by Beritajakarta.id, the cemeteries have been busy since morning. Generally, residents come in groups ranging from children to adults using motorcycles and cars.

As conducted by Sri Mulyati (41), a resident of RT 05/08, Kalibata Urban Village, Pancoran Sub-district. Together with her extended family of eight people, she came to visit the graves of her parents, Syarifudin bin Suryana, who was buried at Tegal Alur Public Cemetery.

"It's like a tradition ahead of Ramadan. We take the family to make a pilgrimage to the graves of their parents," she admitted, Sunday (3/19).

Similar statement also came from Bahri (53), a resident of RT 03/05, Rawa Buaya Urban Village, Cengakreng Sub-district, West Jakarta. He and his extended family of 12 people came to the graves of his parents at Utan Jati Public Cemetery.

“My parents died 15 years ago. The pilgrimage moment before Ramadan is also a place for silaturahmi (communal bonds) with other family members," he stated.