Hari Raya exodus in Indonesia comes early amid work-from-anywhere policy

Passengers carrying their luggage as people return to their hometowns, known locally as "mudik", ahead of the Eid al-Fitr celebration, at the National Monument in Jakarta on March 27, 2025. - Reuters

JAKARTA: A work-from-anywhere (WFA) policy for civil servants and earlier school holidays for students have contributed to an earlier mudik (exodus) ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday in 2025, as suggested by data compiled by the authorities.

A recent survey by Indonesia’s transportation ministry has estimated that 146.48 million people will make their homebound journeys in 2025, with the peak of mudik flow expected to occur on March 28, or three days before the Eid al-Fitr holiday on March 31.