Indonesians in Suriname Celebrate Eid with Keroncong Music, Opor Ayam

KBRN, Ambon: Muslims worldwide have unique traditions for commemorating Eid al-Fitr, the celebration that marks the end of the Ramadan fasting month.

Indonesian Muslim citizens in Suriname, for example, celebrated the 2025 Eid al-Fitr with 'keroncong' and 'dangdut' music performances presented with the specialty menu of opor ayam (chicken cooked in seasoned coconut milk) and 'ketupat' (steamed rice cakes wrapped in plated banana leaves).

Suriname is one of the countries in the world with a small population of approximately 1 million people. However, the number of Indonesian citizens residing in Suriname is relatively big, around 725 people.

To promote community development, therefore, the Indonesian Embassy in Paramaribo organized an Eid al-Fitr mass prayer and a 'halal bihalal' reception.

Halal bihalal" is an Indonesian tradition of reconciliation held during Eid al-Fitr, where people seek forgiveness, strengthen bonds, and foster harmony within communities

"With this halal bihalal, Indonesian citizens living abroad can feel togetherness, especially on Eid al-Fitr, which is full of family meaning," Sadikin, Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the Indonesian Embassy in Paramaribo, said in a statement on Friday, April 4, 2025, as quoted by rri.co.id.

In line with the purpose of halal bihalal, the theme of this year's Eid al-Fitr sermon was 'Celebrating Victory with Sincerity and Togetherness'.

Sadikin appealed to the congregation to always reflect on the meaning of sincerity, togetherness, and forgiveness contained in the moment of Eid al-Fitr celebration.

To entertain the guests, the Indonesian Embassy in Paramaribo featured the renowned Surinamese keroncong music group, Keroncong Irama Bestari, along with a Muslim fashion show and performances of Islamic and dangdut songs.

Bronto Somohardjo, the former Minister of Home Affairs of Suriname, expressed his admiration for the well-organized and welcoming event.

Evert Karto, a Surinamese Parliament member of Javanese descent, also appreciated the Indonesian-style halal bihalal ambiance, remarking, "I feel like I'm not in Suriname."

Living abroad often evokes a longing for one's homeland, a sentiment shared by Indonesian citizens in Suriname. Extended work contracts and the high cost of plane tickets are the primary reasons preventing them from returning to Indonesia to celebrate Eid.

Ketupat and Opor Ayam are quintessential dishes for Eid celebrations in Indonesia. To ease their longing for Opor Ayam, Indonesian citizens in Suriname eagerly attended the Eid al-Fitr Halal bihalal event hosted by the Indonesian Embassy in Paramaribo.

In addition to Opor Ayam, guests can also enjoy other typical Indonesian dishes such as Sundanese fried chicken with fresh vegetables, meatballs, fried noodles, Es Teler (iced tropical fruit cocktail), Pastel, Dadar Gulung, Nastar, Kastangel, banana chips, and fried peanuts.

More than 400 guests attended the halal bihalal gathering at the Indonesian Embassy in Paramaribo. Most of them are Indonesian citizens who have long resided in Suriname.

This halal bihalal event is also designed to strengthen people-to-people relations between Indonesian citizens and Surinamese citizens who are classified as Indonesian diaspora and friends of Indonesia.

This year's halal bihalal event at the Indonesian Embassy in Paramaribo welcomed a delegation from an Indonesian company partnering with N.V. Soeng Gie & Co Suriname.

In addition to attending, they distributed souvenirs to the guests. The visit by Indonesian product producers highlighted the strong trade relationship between Indonesia and Suriname. ***