From Street Snacks to Sacred Sands: The Inspiring Hajj 2025 Journey of Nanik Hariyati

TIMESINDONESIA, JOMBANG – Not every pilgrimage begins with wealth or ease, and Nanik Hariyati’s journey proves just that. At 63 years old, she has finally set foot on the holy soil of Makkah for Hajj 2025.

A devoted mother and a humble cireng seller, Nanik’s path was built on sacrifice and prayer. Her story is one of quiet perseverance that touches the soul.

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Nanik lives in Desa Trawasan, a small village in Jombang, East Java. Every day, she helps her second child sell cireng, fried tapioca snacks filled with savory ingredients. Despite the simplicity of her routine, she harbored a deep and personal dream. She wanted, someday, to stand before the Kaaba.

In 2014, Nanik registered for Hajj with money from selling a small piece of land her late husband left behind. The land sold for 50 million rupiah, and she used half of it to join the Hajj queue.

The remaining amount she generously split among her three children. At the time, her departure date was estimated for 2031, a 17-year wait.

Her chance came earlier than expected thanks to the mahram rule in Hajj registration. Her younger sister, Sholihati, had registered in 2012 and invited Nanik to join her. This opportunity allowed her to leave six years ahead of schedule. For Nanik, it felt nothing short of a divine blessing.

Nanik’s journey has been marked by struggle since her husband passed away in 1995. Left with three young children, she took on any job she could find to support them. She worked as a housemaid, then later at a local cracker factory. Her strength came from love, and her hope never faded.

Even when life was hard, she remained grounded in her faith. Each year brought new challenges, but she continued to put her children’s needs above her own. She believed that one day, her prayers would be answered. And now, they have.

When asked how she feels, Nanik speaks with deep emotion and gratitude. “I still can’t believe I’m here,” she said with teary eyes. “All I ever wanted was to raise my children well and one day visit the Holy Land," her voice trembles.

Nanik boarded flight SV 5185 from Surabaya to Madinah (7/5/2025). Her departure marked the culmination of decades of hard work, faith, and resilience.

She didn’t wear luxury brands or carry expensive luggage, but she carried a heart full of prayers. Her only wish now is that her children and grandchildren can someday follow her path.

In Makkah, Nanik plans to pray for her family above all else. She asks Allah to give her children barakah in their lives and the chance to perform Hajj themselves.

She believes that what she has achieved is not hers alone, but a reward for her whole family. Her joy is not just in arriving, but in carrying her loved ones in every prayer.

From the small kitchen where she once fried cireng to the holy grounds of Makkah, Nanik Hariyati’s journey is truly extraordinary. Her story reminds us that even the simplest lives can reach the most sacred places.

It shows that with patience, sincerity, and faith, nothing is impossible. And for Nanik, her Hajj 2025 experience will not be just a journey to the Kaaba, it will be a journey of the heart. (*)

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