Monday, 23Oct06

Highlights: Visited cemetery, first Muslim prayer

There is a strong tradition here in Java of keeping those who have passed away alive in memory. Nina’s family is big, to understate it casually… and many generations rest in peace here. We went to two cemeteries to pay visits to some of those family members this morning.

Dad (Pak Sudargo), used to come sit by the grave of his father late into the night when he was younger. I’ve heard this from several other folks as well. Just looking for a sense of peace from loved ones,,, no matter which phase of life they’re in.
His father held strong animist beliefs, so traditions involving the spirits of ancestors had a strong early influence. I think he was 7 when his father passed.

Nenek (Nina’s grandmother) has 8 brothers and sisters. We visited 6 of them here, as well as her husband. (= Many graves don’t have names visibly etched in them anymore, but there was an old groundskeeper who could tell you who was under each plot. Instead of laying carnations or roses on tombstones, as in the states, we took perfumed flower petals wrapped in banana tree leaves and sprinkled them on top as an offering & prayer for their peaceful sleep.