Indonesian Muslims have a unique Islamic observance during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr in which families visit the graves of their loved ones to pay their respects and preserve family histories. This tradition has been carried out for many generations before the arrival of Islam in Indonesia, but was influenced and guided by Islamic teachings. The tradition has various names and processes in different regions of Indonesia, such as Munggahan in West Java and Nyadran in Javanese society. The visits involve praying for the deceased and cleaning and tidying the graves, which can also act as a reminder of the afterlife and the inevitability of death. Monash University law lecturer, Nadirsyah Hosen, views this tradition as a good one and argues that it can remind people of the importance of death, which is often overlooked in other cultures. This form of activity is a horizontal relationship between humans that complements the vertical relationship between humans and God.
