Jakarta – While most Muslims celebrated Idul Fitri with their families, others in the city were not so lucky.

Siti Faridah, 37, a squatter who lives on vacant land next to the Jembatan Tiga turnpike in North Jakarta, observed the day alone where her family's small shanty used to stand.

Hundreds of shanties on the land were torn down last week by city officials as part of a plan to evict thousands of squatters from under the city's bridges.

Siti said she would remain living on the land until she received Rp 1 million (approximately US$110) in compensation, even though it meant she would not be able to celebrate Idul Fitri with her family.

"As soon as I receive the money, I will join my husband who has taken my daughter to my parents' home on Celagen Island in the Thousand Islands regency," she said.

She now lives among the debris of her home, with no household equipment except for a stove, a frying pan and a few plates. When night comes, she sleeps on a plaited mat on the ground. "Luckily some of the house was not demolished so I was able to make a roof with canvas," she said.

Rawi, 45, is also staying put under the Jembatan Tiga turnpike until she receives compensation. Unlike other years when she celebrated Idul Fitri by taking her three children to an amusement park or by eating ketupat (rice cooked in plaited coconut leaves), Rawi observed the day silently this year. "I didn't have money to celebrate Lebaran this year," she said.

She used to work as a street vendor, but since the eviction announcement in September she has remained in her shanty around the clock to ensure she does not miss the district survey, which determines who will receive compensation.

"Last year I still could afford to take the kids to Dunia Fantasi," she said, referring to one of the amusement parks at Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta. "I used any material available to make our demolished home more inhabitable," she said.

What she calls her "home" looks more like a narrow, makeshift tent covered in dark canvas. The family's bedroom is a piece of thin mattress placed next to several boxes containing clothes and household equipment.

"I will take my kids away from here as soon as I get the money that has been promised to me," she said. "We went to Mega Mall (in North Jakarta) yesterday by minivan. The trip was just for fun and we didn't buy anything," said Rawi's daughter Febiola, 9, who was playing nearby.

She was chatting with her friends who shared similar stories of a quiet Idul Fitri.

"I didn't go anywhere during Lebaran. My family has no money," said Rani, 9, while holding her one-year-old sister. "Of course we hoped to go somewhere or to get new clothes to wear during Lebaran, but my parents couldn't afford it, and that's okay," she said.