MANY of you, dear readers, may be planning to head for your hometowns or villages. This is an annual activity among urbanites, particularly in Jakarta, just prior to Lebaran or Idul Fitri, Islam’s major holiday. No matter how long and arduous the travel, mudik or ‘going home’ is a tradition that is just a must to many.

The Lebaran atmosphere also permeated our office in the Proklamasi area of Central Jakarta, particularly evident on the in