“We mostly concentrate on visiting the elderly or

served with a varied assortment of condiments of poultry, beef and vegetable dishes, mostly cooked in spicy coconut milk. “We also have lontong sayur,” adds Husin, “and a special treat for the family: empekempek, tekwan and fishcakes, plus an array of hors-d’oeuvres from Palembang, where my wife was born.”

After the meal, it is time for silaturahim: cordial visits to close family members and colleagues around town. “We mostly concentrate on visiting the elderly or those considered as seniors,” Husin explains. Cabinet ministers and statesman are among the top priority on the list of his visits: “Last year, on the first day of Lebaran we paid a visit to the Chairman of the People’s Conscience Party, Hanura Wiranto, and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, although the president spends Lebaran in Aceh and the next day with his big family in Solo.”

In the afternoon, it is time for Saleh Husin and his family to hold an open-house event at his residence. This is when friends, economy: spending on food and beverages rises dramatically. This spending boom directly influences Saleh Husin himself, who performs routine visits to related companies to ensure everything will run smooth, without a hiccup, and that stocks will survive the spike in demand.

But, at the end of the day, with economic considerations set aside, Husin strikes a more philosophical note about the deeper meaning of this special time. “Lebaran is a day of victory after 30 days of fasting—a period that we pass through withstanding hunger and thirst, as well as moments when we have to control our emotions and keep our temper.

“And for sure it has to be celebrated with family and friends whom we seldom meet. Lebaran is really a time when friends enjoy each other’s company and laugh together. It is a rare opportunity because each of us, in this modern time, are tied up with our own daily routines. It is a time for blessings and for reflection, but above all for joy.”

those considered as seniors,” Husin explains.