UNS — Ramadan is usually identical to increased prayers and worship by Muslims. However, for Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta International Office (UPT KLI), the momentum also means increasing tolerance through Cultural Talk: Ramadan Around the World Series. A webinar with people performing their fasting around the world, sharing their experiences in having Ramadan from different countries.
The Chairman of UPT KLI UNS, Rino Ardhian Nugroho,S.Sos., M.T.I., Ph.D., stated they wanted to strengthen tolerance and peace among religions through the event. He added that this was an excellent opportunity to share Ramadan traditions in various countries and hoped the event could improve people’s insights towards cultural differences among the countries.
“We believe that (we) could spread peace and tolerance in this holy month,” Rino stated.
The Cultural Talk was held in collaboration among UNS, Unika Soegijapranata Semarang, and Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (Unissula) Semarang. Cultural Talk series 1 invited M. Taufiq Al Makmun, Natasya Adelia Zehra, and Fatima Fadhel Juma Luthfalla a speaker.
M. Taufiq Al Makmun is a faculty member in the English Language and Literature Program UNS pursuing his doctoral degree at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), Ohio, United States (US). Taufiq shared his Ramadan experiences in the US. He said he is grateful that his university is very friendly towards Muslim students despite their small numbers. He also shared that he did not find praying difficult because his campus provides Muslim students with a praying hall (musala).
The campus is also very open toward students who perform their fasting, and the Muslim community at BGSU organizes tarawih prayer regularly and holds collective iftar using a potluck system. “Although, I could not find kolak easily here,” he said jokingly.
Natasya Adelia Zehra is a student of the Faculty of Engineering Unissula who participates in a student exchange program in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She explained that the main difference in fasting between Indonesia and the Netherlands is that in the Netherlands, she fasts for almost 15—16 hours. But she is also grateful that the local weather was friendly.
“One of the benefits of fasting in the Netherlands is the weather. This month the weather is not too hot. So, during fasting, I could cycle and stay fresh, not like overly sweating, unlike in Semarang,” she said with a laugh.
Fatima Fadhel Juma Luthfalla, a teacher in Duraz Primary Girls School, Bahrain, shared the customs in Bahrain that people treat Ramadan like a festival. People purchase Ramadan stuff and decorate their houses. “One of the unique traditions in Bahrain is Nasfa. It is held in the mid of Ramadan. It is similar to Halloween but for Muslims,” she said. In Nasfa, children visit home to ask for candies and chocolates, and they are full of delight during this event. Humas UNS
Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti