Indonesians across the archipelago have been kept busy preparing for mudik, an annual ritual for Muslims to go back to their hometown to see families and friends on Idul Fitri. 

In the last ten days of Ramadan, preparation for Lebaran, the two days when Idul Fitri is celebrated in Indonesia, is picking up pace. Some people even choose to leave early to beat the Lebaran traffic rush.

Some choose to avoid traveling inland altogether. Muslims from Riau have been boarding the Jelatik Ekspres ferry in the past few days before the Lebaran ticket hike starts in earnest.

Around 23 million Indonesians are expected to make the long journey back from big cities to their kampung this Lebaran holiday. 

Kereta Api Indonesia (Railways Indonesia) said they have prepared eight extra trains to take passengers from Jakarta to small cities and towns in Central and East Java. These extra trains can accommodate up to 2,620 passengers. 

Police are also busy preparing security arrangements on popular mudik routes, such as the Trans Palu-Donggala highway in Central Sulawesi and Pantura, the long stretch of highways along the northern coast of Java. 

The police have named their Lebaran security operation this year "Operasi Ketupat Candi" ("Rice Cake Temple Operation").

Add as a preferred source on Google +