Birth Of The Prophet Muhammad Holiday

In Arabic, Maulid means ‘the day of birth.’ Maulid Nabi is celebrated to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, which falls on 12 of Rabiul Awal—the third month of the Islamic calendar. The celebration of the Prophet's birthday was first carried out by Muzhaffaruddin Al-Kaukabri, a king of Irbil (now Iraq) in the early 7th century AD.

In Indonesia, the Prophet’s birthday has been made a national holiday since 1945. Maulid Nabi is celebrated by Muslims across the archipelago through various intriguing activities. Each region will have different traditions when commemorating the Prophet's birthday. Unsurprisingly, these traditions have caught the eye of many foreign tourists to the country. 

One of the holidays for Muslims is Maulid Nabi or the celebration of The Prophet Muhammad’s birth. In Arabic, Maulid means the day of birth. 

According to the Hijri calendar, the Prophet's Birthday falls on the 12th of Rabiul Awal. In the Islamic calendar, Rabiul Awal is the third month which consists of thirty days. The commemoration of the Prophet's birthday was first carried out by Muzhaffaruddin Al-Kaukabri in the early 7th century AD. Muzhaffaruddin Al-Kaukabri was King Irbil, an area which is now called Iraq.

The commemoration of the Prophet's birthday in Indonesia has been designated as a national holiday since the independence era. Generally, the Prophet's birthday is enlivened by various interesting activities by Muslims throughout the archipelago. Each region even has a different tradition when commemorating the Prophet's birthday. No wonder the rituals that have been carried out have succeeded in stealing the attention of tourists.

The estimated date for the 2022 Prophet's Birthday national holiday falls on Saturday, 8 October. Since the holiday falls on a Saturday, you can extend your vacation by adding one more leave day on Monday or Friday. Thus, your vacation time can be longer and feel satisfying.

Variety of the Prophet's Birthday Celebration in Indonesia

The commemoration of the Prophet's birthday in Indonesia is still thick with traditional nuances. From western to eastern Indonesia, each region has its own tradition. For example, in Aceh there is a tradition of cooking lemang that has been passed down from the Alas Tribe. Lemang is a food made from a mixture of sticky rice and coconut milk. This activity of cooking lemang generally requires a four-hour process.

In Banten, the commemoration of the Prophet's birthday was also celebrated. Named as Panjang Mulud, this tradition can only be witnessed once a year. Panjang Mulud is synonymous with the tradition of distributing groceries to the community.

Uniquely, these staples are placed on a wooden frame which is decorated and shaped to resemble a boat. The procession of Panjang Mulud is sure to steal the attention of local residents and tourists who come to Banten.

The commemoration of the Prophet's birthday in Kudus, Central Java, is no less creative than the people of Banten. Communities around Kudus will hold the Ampyang Maulid tradition on the birthday of Prophet Muhammad SAW. The stretchers that were paraded containing packaged rice and agricultural products were then distributed to local residents. The Maulid Ampyang tradition is believed to bring blessings to the Kudus community. 

Typical offerings of the Prophet's Birthday Celebration

Celebration of the Prophet's Birthday in Indonesia is incomplete without the presence of various Indonesian culinary delights. In Bangil, Pasuruan, East Java there is a Koya cake which is only available during the Prophet's birthday. This sweet snack is made from rice flour so it has a very soft texture.

In Pacitan, East Java, there is a main dish to commemorate the Prophet's birthday which is so unique. Its name is Nasi Suci Ulam Sari, consisting of Nasi Uduk and one chicken. According to tradition, each head of the family is required to donate one package of uduk rice and free-range chicken. The dish is then brought to the house of the community elders or the big mosque in the village.

Still on the island of Java, the people of Central Java have a meal of the Prophet's birthday which is just as delicious. This savory dish is called Sumpil, which is generally served with coconut chili sauce.

A snack that is no less interesting to try during the Prophet's birthday is Walima Cake. This cake is generally packaged in young coconut leaves and made by adult women in Gorontalo. Uniquely, only Muslims who do dhikr in the mosque will get this snack. The main page of the Baiturrahim Mosque in Gorontalo City is the location of the center for the distribution of this Walima Cake.

The Buginese people who live around the city of Makassar also have a special dish for the Prophet's birthday, which is making glutinous rice. This special dish for the Prophet's birthday celebration in South Sulawesi is called Male. Male is made of black glutinous rice decorated with colorful eggs. Male decoration competitions are also often held in various agencies to celebrate the Prophet's birthday. At first glance, this traditional dish is similar to Tumpeng in Java.

Plan the Best Moment for the Prophet's Birthday in 2022

It is predicted that the Prophet's Birthday national holiday will only last one day in 2022. However, you can still take advantage of this holiday to gather with family and friends. Cooking some typical dishes of the Prophet's birthday together will also make your holiday more enjoyable. If you want to travel, choose a tourist destination that is not too far away. This is done so that you don't get tired during the trip.

Do you want to have a comfortable vacation during the Prophet's birthday in 2022? Just plan your vacation with Traveloka, which provides your various vacation needs. Starting from hotel, flight, train tickets, bus and shuttle tickets, car rentals, to various culinary delights on Traveloka Eats and travel tickets at Traveloka Xperience.

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