On 18 July, Universitas Gadjah Mada Faculty of Psychology held a celebration of Shawwal 1437 AH at the hall of D building with guest speaker Ir. H. Munichi B. Edrees, M.Arch. The occasion was a lively one, as 300 guests that comprised both active and retired teaching staffs, students, alumni, parents committee, Dharma Wanita (an organization for the wives of civil servants), and other invited guests. The faculty’s gamelan team’s performance added to the event’s festivity from start to finish.
Supra Wimbarti, M. Sc., Ph.D., gave a speech as dean, during which she apologized for any possible unintended mistakes and wrongdoings, and encouraged the audience to not hesitate and set aside their pride to do the same in the joyful event. “On behalf of my person, my role as dean, and deanery, we wish you a happy eid fitr 1437 AH. We extend our deepest apology to all of the attendants if we are still lacking in our service”, she said in her welcome speech.
In the same vein of the dean’s opening remarks, Ir. H. Munichi B. Edrees, M.Arch added that the act of silaturahmi, (the concept of hospitality in Islam), is only proper when done face-to-face. With the convenience of technology, people seldom commit silaturahmi in spite of the rewards and longevity promised from doing so. The ustad (title for Islamic scholars) continued to advise the audience not to lose to their desire, to keep committing prayers and to find meaning in the Qur’an instead of merely reading it.
The Shawwal celebration ended with all attendants shaking hands as a gesture of apology.