What is the Long Form of Mudik? Here is the Definition and Its History!
Eid is just around the corner. After a long time working in a big city, you must be thinking about going home. As is known, going home (mudik) is a tradition that has become ingrained in Indonesia. Although this tradition has been around for a long time in Indonesia, do you know what the abbreviation of mudik is? And what is the historical origin of this tradition? To satisfy your curiosity, let’s take a look at the following review.
What is the Abbreviation of Mudik?
You are probably familiar with the term mudik. However, do you know the abbreviation of mudik itself? According to Indonesian philosophy studies expert, Jakob Sumardjo, the term mudik is an abbreviation of the words Mulih Dhilik. This word comes from the Ngoko Javanese language and means to return briefly. According to its meaning, the travelers will return to the city or region they migrated from. However, that’s not all. It turns out that the term mudik also has another abbreviation. According to Betawi historian, Ridwan Saidi, mudik comes from the words menuju udik which means heading south.
Definition of Mudik
After you know the abbreviation of the term mudik, next you need to understand the definition of mudik. Based on its abbreviation, the term mudik can be interpreted as returning to one's hometown during certain moments such as Eid, Christmas, or New Year. This homecoming moment is only temporary, and later the migrants will return to their places of migration.
Read Also: Safe Mudik Without Worry, Here Are Tips for Leaving Home During Mudik!
History of Mudik
For those of you who are curious about the historical origins of mudik, this tradition has existed since the Majapahit and Islamic Mataram kingdoms. At that time, mudik was performed by Javanese farmers to return to their hometowns or places of origin. This mudik was usually done for the purpose of cleaning the graves of their ancestors or for the harvest festival.
The history of mudik began during the vast Majapahit empire that extended to Sri Lanka and the Malay Peninsula. To maintain its vast territory, the king placed his officials in various regions. At one point, these officials returned to meet the king and visit their hometowns. A similar situation also occurred during the Islamic Mataram kingdom to maintain its territory. During the Islamic Mataram kingdom, officials returned specifically to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. These two events are the origins of the mudik tradition in Indonesia.
Then in the 1970s, the mudik tradition became a trend in Indonesia. During that year, people who migrated to big cities like Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang, Jakarta, and others returned to their hometowns by taking advantage of long work holidays to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.
When talking about the motives for mudik that occurred in the context of societal rationalization since the 1970s, the people who mudik had traditionalistic motives, namely city dwellers returning to engage in traditional activities and lifestyles in their hometowns. However, in the early 21st century, the motives for mudik have shifted towards more rational reasons. Usually, they engage in mudik activities for practical reasons such as family gatherings or family recreation.
Thus, this is a review of the abbreviation of mudik, its definition, and its history. If you intend to mudik this Eid, then you need to prepare several important things. Starting from preparing your physical condition, travel accommodation costs, food and drink supplies, necessary medications, to ensuring your car is in good condition if you are mudik by private car. To keep your car in top condition, service your car at a Daihatsu workshop thoroughly before mudik. This way, your mudik journey will feel much safer, more comfortable, and enjoyable.
