VOA常速英语2007-Muslims Worldwide Celebrate Eid-al-Fitr

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakarta
12 October 2007

Muslims around the world are ready to celebrate one of the most important holidays on the Islamic calendar, Eid-al Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. In Indonesia, which has the world's largest population of Muslims, the celebration centers around family, food, and home. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins has more Jakarta.

Tens of millions of Indonesians are filling the roads, buses, trains, ferries, and planes in an annual exodus¹ to return to their birthplaces to celebrate the end of the Islamic fasting month, called Idul Fitri here.

In Jakarta, businesses and shops are closed and the usually gridlocked streets are nearly empty as about half the capital's 12 million people leave the city for their hometowns.

Idul Fitri marks the end of the month of Ramadan, when Muslims are required to abstain² from food, drink and sex during daylight hours.

Chris, a British Muslim married to an Indonesian woman compares Idul Fitri to the Christian³ celebration of Christmas.

"It's very much like Christmas or Thanksgiving for Muslims. And in Indonesia, this going home tradition's very strong, so the roads are blocked, millions of people are returning home," he said. "Me and my family are going to my wife's sister's house where they'll have a lot of people gathering⁴ and having fun, basically. Kids will get new clothes, we'll get some fireworks, that kind of stuff - it's just a good family time."

During Ramadan, bars, clubs and most entertainment spots have been closed. But some that dared to stay open have been raided by police or attacked by hard-line Islamic groups.

Eid begins on Saturday and includes asking for forgiveness for transgressions⁵ committed during the year, so as to make a fresh start.

"I'm going to the mosque⁶ with my family then I'm going to visit my extended family," said Zakky, an office worker in Jakarta. "We're going to forgive each other - say sorry for what we have done in the last year and then so we can have the day really as - start the day clean like Idul Fitri should be, a day of cleanness."

For most of the Islamic world Eid al Fitr begins on Saturday, but, millions of followers⁷ of Indonesia's second largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah Ulama, mark the holiday Friday.

1 exodus   

v.大批离去，成群外出

参考例句：

• The medical system is facing collapse because of an exodus of doctors.由于医生大批离去，医疗系统面临崩溃。
• Man's great challenge at this moment is to prevent his exodus from this planet.人在当前所遇到的最大挑战，就是要防止人从这个星球上消失。

2 abstain   

v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免

参考例句：

• His doctor ordered him to abstain from beer and wine.他的医生嘱咐他戒酒。
• Three Conservative MPs abstained in the vote.三位保守党下院议员投了弃权票。

3 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

4 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

5 transgressions   

n.违反，违法，罪过( transgression的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Many marine transgressions occur across coastal plains. 许多海运是横越滨海平原。 来自辞典例句
• For I know my transgressions, and my sin always before me. 因为我知道我的过犯，我的罪常在我面前。 来自互联网

6 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

7 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。