Hajj 2025: Sri Dewi Journey from Pennies to Makkah

TIMESINDONESIA, SURABAYA – In a quiet village in Kediri, East Java, there lives a woman whose faith and perseverance have carried her thousands of miles from a humble warung to the sacred soil of Makkah for Hajj 2025.

Sri Dewi Sudarwati, 66, isn’t a celebrity or a public figure. She’s a grandmother of seven, a small shop owner, and until recently, just one among millions who dreamed of performing Hajj. What sets her apart is how she made it happen, Rp20,000 at a time.

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“I started saving in 2009. Every day, I put aside twenty thousand rupiah. Not much, but I never missed a day," she said.

No bank account. No financial advisor. Just a wooden box tucked away safely in her modest home in Wates Village, where the rhythm of rural life moves quietly, steadily just like her determination.

She didn't grow up thinking the Hajj was something she could afford. Her husband, now deceased, used to patch motorcycle tires and sell gasoline in recycled bottles on the roadside.

They lived in a rented house, raised their children on tight margins, and worked hard for every grain of rice on their table.

Yet the dream remained.

When her youngest child was old enough and life felt a little more stable, Sri made a decision. “I wanted to go, even if it meant waiting years. Even if I had to go alone.”

And she did. After years of disciplined saving, her wooden box finally held Rp25 million. In 2012, she registered for Hajj.

It would take another 13 years for her turn to come.

Now, in 2025, her name was finally called. On May 3rd, at 2:20 PM, she boarded a plane to Madinah with other pilgrims from Group 5. Her heart was full of prayers, of memories, of gratitude.

Her husband had gone before her. “We couldn’t afford to register together. There was only enough for one. He went first. Alhamdulillah.” She speaks without bitterness. Only peace.

Their early marriage had been a struggle. “We didn’t even have a house. But slowly, things changed. In 1995, I opened a small stall at home. I started with rice and eggs. Now, I sell more things, and my warung is fuller than ever.”

Her story isn’t just about money. It’s about the power of purpose. About how faith, when paired with effort, can carry a person across decades and continents.

In Makkah, Sri says she will pray for her children and grandchildren. “I hope they can follow me someday. Or at least go for Umrah. That would make me very happy," she ended.

As she steps into the land of the Prophet, she brings with her the hopes of a family, the strength of a village woman. While performing her Hajj 2025 she would like to remind the world that the journey to something holy doesn’t always begin in luxury, it often starts with a small wooden box and a heart full of faith. (*)

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