DESCRIPTIVE – EVENT  [Hari Raya Celebration]

One of the biggest celebrations in Malaysia is Eid or more commonly known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa. Hari Raya literally means 'Celebration Day'. It is celebrated by Muslims on 1 Syawal of Muslim Calendar after a month of fasting.

Shopping malls and bazaars are usually filled with people days ahead of Hari Raya, which creates a distinctive festive atmosphere throughout the country. This is the time when my mother and I will do our last minute shopping for clothes and delicacies. Then, we will return to our home town to celebrate the festival.

The night before Hari Raya is filled with the sounds of the takbir in the mosques. Just like in many parts of Malaysia, especially in the rural areas, I will lit oil lamps and place them outside and around my grandmother’s home. My brothers, together with my cousins, will light traditional bamboo cannon or firecrackers which are notoriously loud and can be very dangerous. My mother and aunts will be busy preparing special dishes like ketupat, dodol, rendang and other delicacies to serve on the next day. My favourite is definitely lemang which is a type of glutinous rice cooked in bamboo.

On the morning of Hari Raya, we will wear our traditional clothing, baju kurung. Before heading to the mosque for prayer, we will greet one another and ask for forgiveness for sins which we may have committed. Once the prayer is completed, it is common for many Muslims to visit the graves of loved ones. During this visit, we will clean the grave, recite Yassin, and also perform the tahlil ceremony. All these are done as a means to ask God to forgive both the dead and the living for our sins. The rest of the day is spent visiting relatives or serving visitors. Hari Raya is a very joyous day for me and other children as we will be given token sums of money, also known as "duit raya", from our parents or elders.

I truly enjoy the Hari Raya celebration which is a really unique festival. It is more than a religious celebration as it fosters closer relation in a family as well as the neighbourhood.