Jakarta, March 18 -- As Eid al-Fitr approaches, Indonesians are starting their annual homecoming tradition, known as 'mudik'.

Mudik, one of the most fascinating traditions in the country, is so massive that millions of people willingly endure long and often exhausting journeys to reunite with their families during the Eid holiday.

This year, an estimated 143.9 million people are expected to travel during the Eid homecoming period, according to the Transportation Ministry. This figure is down 1.75 percent from the 2025 survey estimate of 146 million people.

Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the estimate was based on a nationwide survey conducted by the ministry to assess public travel intentions and preferences.

Officials s...