October 12, 2007: Memory of 'Malam Raya' - the Brightest Night

Hi everyone,

'Malam raya' (Eid night) is among the awaited moments especially for children. When I was little, this is the only night that mother would allow us to play fire crackers (even though it might had been bought few days before). We (my siblings and I) will be waiting anxiously and checking the firecrakers like 20 times every night until the 'malam raya' arrived.

Other than firecrackers, during 'malam raya' we will also light 'pelita' (oil lamp). I have mentioned the background of 'pelita' in my previous blog. However for the children , we love malam raya simply because it is the most brightest night in the village - all neighbours will have their own set of pelita.

The pelita is either hanged in rows or own its own around the house. This type of pelita is sometimes called 'pelita ayan'.

Those days we can't afford to have all 'pelita ayan' around the house. So normally mother will light only few pelita, while the rest of the area will be brighten by 'pelita buloh' (bamboo lamp) made by my brother!

Not just that we will also burn coconut shells. During the whole month of Ramadhan (sometimes even few months before that) we will be collecting coconut shells around the village and kept it in a dry place. On malam raya the coconut shells will be arranged horizontally on a long wood (special type of wood need to be used so that it won't burnt along with the coconut shells). Then we will start burnt the top part of the coconut shells - it will be left the whole night until all the coconut shells burnt. Unfortunately I couldn't find the picture - maybe people don't do it anymore.

BUT tonight, no pelita ayan, no pelita buloh ..... Only this - candles on my balcony - to brighten my malam raya in the city .....

Goodnight everyone!

Love - Larra