Aceh people conduct Meugang to welcome fasting month

In observance of the fasting month of Ramadhan 2011, Aceh people need around 8,000 cows for Meugang consumption, the local unique tradition where the people consider it an obligatory service for their families. 

Aceh people normally conduct the Meugang -- purchasing, cooking and consuming beef, mutton or buffalo meat together with their families two days before entering the Ramadhan 1432 Hijriyah. 

The people since morning flock to the markets to buy the meat.

In Banda Aceh, capital city of Aceh province, for instance, the people can buy beef among others in the traditional markets of Peunayong, Beurawe, Ulee Kareng and Keutapang.

The roads near the markets are jammed, as people surrounded the butchers` tables and this kind of situation happened almost throughout Aceh province.

This year the Aceh provincial administration was reported to have prepared some 16,000 cows including buffaloes, while the people need about 8,000 of them for Meugang. 

Last year, the local government prepared 10,957 cows and 6,411 buffaloes for the occasion, but only about 8,000 were needed.

Aceh, the Indonesian most-western province has about 4.48 million people.

In the meantime, North Aceh alone where some major companies including the natural gas producer PT Arun NGL are located, currently need about 2,362 cows for the Meugang, according to chief of the North Aceh district Livestock Production and Development division, Saifuddin on Tuesday.

The price of good quality beef in Banda Aceh ranged from Rp85,000 to Rp90,000 per kilogram and increased from Rp80,000 two weeks ago. 

The local Muslims, however, remained enthusiastic to buy the beef from the local breeders which are considered to have good quality.

Aceh community feel uneasy and even dishonoured if they don`t buy meat on Meugang day. 

The rich and the poor seem that they must buy the meat for the purpose of Meugang which has become the hereditary tradition in the province.

To the bridegroom, for instance, it is a big disgrace if he fails to buy meet for his mother-in-law on the Meugang day.

"If someone (adult) cannot buy meat for Meugang, the people at home can be sad," said Usman,40, a resident of Banda Aceh.

Many rich people normally contribute meat for the poor in order that all people in the province relieved to enter the holy month of Ramadan.

According to Teungku Badruzzaman Ismail, Aceh Indigenous council chairman, Meugang implies the meaning of fostering friendship among people.

At the moment of Meugang, all family members gather at home, the rich and the poor and orphans can mingle. 

Normally, they prefer to enjoy the Meugang meat during lunch time at the places of interest among others in the coastal areas.

Aceh or the Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province has many places of interest in the districts of Aceh Barat, Aceh Barat Daya, Aceh Besar, Aceh Jaya, Aceh Selatan, Aceh Singkil, Aceh Tamiang, Aceh Tengah, Aceh Tenggara, Aceh Timur, Aceh Utara, Bener Meriah, Bireuen, Gayo Lues, Nagan Raya, Pidie, Pidie Jaya and Simeulue and Sabang.

At first this tradition looks similar to Implementation sacrifice in Eid Al-Adha, but on the Meugang, the residents normally buy their own meat.

To Muslims in Aceh, this kind of celebration is part of excitement to welcome the month of Ramadan.

The Ramadan has its own meaning to Aceh residents, and in advance of the holy month, the normally prepare environmental hygiene supplies.

Meanwhile, many breeders are reluctant to sell their livestock to the local traders, because they wait for the high prices ahead of the Meugang celebration.

"I will sell the goats next week or close to two days of `Meugang` because the current price is still low and uncertain," said Bachtiar, one of breeders in Aceh Besar district recently.

He explained that if the cows are sold now, they will sell around them at Rp9.5 million per head and probably next week ranged from Rp 10 to 10.5 million per head.

Aceh people held a belief that after working for 11 months a year to earn a living, then during the Ramadhan, they enjoyed the Holy Month with full of prayers

Source: ANTARA