In the world’s largest Muslim nation, a street food vendor’s tasty sundown snack has become so popular that people rush to get one whether they’re breaking a Ramadan fast or not.
The resulting rush has created a kind of friendly competition in the decidedly laid-back country of Indonesia, and even though the vendor first made the snacks for Muslims, he and thousands like him relish how it is bringing people together.
Mr. Kusmanadi opens a stall to sell his “takjil” every year during Ramadan, the holy month in Islam wherein Muslims forsake water and food between sunrise and sunset. This year however, non-Muslims are commonly seen “hunting takjil” which is the phrase used in situ.
Takjil is an Indonesian word that means a snack for breaking the Ramadan fast, but this year, Kusmanadi is serving all kinds of people. Every country has its own “takjil” but in Indonesia, it’s often just traditional snacks like coconut milk compote, pandan glutinous rice balls filled with palm sugar, and mung bean and sesame balls.
“So even though it’s Ramadan at the moment and the ones fasting are Muslims, the non-Muslims are also hunting,” Kusmanadi told ABC News Australia. “I’m… also happy that non-Muslims are participating. I think this is a good thing. It’s very Indonesian.”
Natasya Salim and Erwin Renaldi, writing for ABC, report that social media is beginning to swell with the content of non-Muslims partaking at takjil stands, with some humorous results, such as vendors quizzing them on the Five Pillars of Islam and teasing them about not knowing the answers.
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The ultimate humor is the origination of the trend to seek out takjil at sundown, which came from a Christian preacher at the Tiberius Church in Jakarta of all places.
“Our religion is tolerant, but when it comes to takjil, we have to be first,” the pastor joked during a sermon that was being recorded by a congregant who posted it on TikTok where it went viral.
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The clip of the sermon now has about 23.8 million views. Asked about the “takjil war” as social media has dubbed it, Pastor Saerang who made the original comment said it demonstrates how Indonesia practices “tolerance on the next level.”
“But with the takjil war, we are actually leveling up… We support and also become a part of a religious ceremony of our brothers and sisters whichever their religion is,” Saerang said, according to Salim and Renaldi. “I think that’s the real Indonesia.”
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