Eid Mubarak!

 

Dear friends,

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my Muslim friends "Eid mubarak" or in my language:

"SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL FITRI"

- maaf zahir & batin -

In Malaysia, the sighting of new moon will take place tonight after the sunset. If the new moon visible, Eid will fall on 30th September, otherwise it will be on 1st October.

For the first time, I'll not be celebrating Eid in Malaysia! Insyaallah, tomorrow I'll fly to England and will celebrate my first Eid with Herb on 1st October! Normally on Eid day we will cook special dishes for family members and guests. Therefore to ensure that I will not miss home-cooked Eid meals, Herb has promised to cook some special dishes and I will also bring some biscuits (we called it 'biskut raya' - special biscuits that we serve during Eid) and not to forget 'lemang' and 'serondeng' (beef floss) . In the picture below, Herb observing my brother in-law making lemang when he was here last year.

before giving himself a try - adding coconut milk to the glutinous rice inside the bamboo (while little Farah watched attentively)

Other than special Eid dishes, normally during Eid we will wear traditional clothes (doesn't matter whether it's old or new clothes). It's either 'baju kurong' or 'baju kebaya' for ladies and 'baju Melayu' and 'songkok' (headgear - traditional Malay cap) for men. In the picture above I was wearing 'baju kurong' made of silk with 'batek' pattern.

In the picture below, my nephews were wearing 'baju Melayu' and 'songkok', while my nieces were wearing 'baju kurung' and 'tudung kepala' (head scarf).

 

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

October 12, 2007: Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

Hi everyone,

Tomorrow, Saturday 13th October 2007 (1st Syawal, the 10th month in Muslim calendar) Muslims in Malaysia will be celebrating Eid - to celebrate the completion of Ramadhan or 30 days of fasting.

Here are information from Wikipedia on 'Hari Raya Aidil Fitri' and how it is celebrated in Malaysia:

Hari Raya Aidilfitri (also Hari Raya Puasa) is the Malay term for the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr. Hari Raya is also known as Lebaran. Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore celebrate Eid like other Muslims throughout the world. The term "Hari Raya" literally means "Day of Celebration" — it is also occasionally used to refer to Eid ul-Adha in the form of "Hari Raya Aidiladha". The main greeting used by Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore is "Selamat Hari Raya" which means "Happy Eid" in Malay. Another greeting is "maaf zahir dan batin" which translates loosely to "I seek forgiveness (from you) physically and spiritually", for Hari Raya is a time to reconcile and renew relationships with others.

On the eve of Hari Raya, Muslims will recite the 'takbir', which is held in mosques and surau (smaller place of worship). In some communities, there will be congregations reciting the takbir from house to house.

Below is YouTube video of 'Takbir' raya (thanks Luna for the idea!)

In big cities and towns, shopping malls and commercial centres will hold big promotions and price discounts for festive shoppers as people purchase clothes and supplies. Decorations are hung in public areas and Hari Raya songs will be played in shopping complexes. The media, such as the television will host various programs in conjunction with the celebrations.

Many people also traditionally return to their hometown generally from big metropolitan cities to rural areas. This is known as 'balik kampung' — literally going back to one's home town to celebrate Hari Raya with family and friends.

The Celebration

Usually on the eve of the celebrations, family members, especially mothers and housewives, will be busy preparing food, cakes, sweets, biscuits and various delicacies to be served on the day of Hari Raya. Delicacies such as 'ketupat' or rice cake and a meat cuisine called 'rendang' are among the most famous cuisines that are served during this day. Other family members will help in other chores such as decorating and cleaning up the house.

Days before Hari Raya, house compounds, particularly those in the countryside will be lit up with oil lamps known as 'pelita' or 'panjut'. This display of oil lamps will reach its height on the 27th night of Ramadan, called the 'Tujuh Likur' night. 'Likur' literally meaning a figure between 20 and 30, hence 'tujuh likur' means twenty seven. Originally during the early days of the arrival of Islam among the Malays, the purpose of lighting the oil lamps was to attract spirits and angels to descend to people's homes during the night of 'Lailatulqadar'. However after ages has passed, such misconception is regarded counterfactual as much understanding of Islam were obtained. Nowadays the oil lamps are lit solely for decorational purposes.

It is customary for Malays to wear traditional Malay costumes. The dress for men is called 'baju Melayu' while the women's are known as 'baju kurung' and 'baju kebaya'. Traditional textiles such as 'songket' and 'batik' are worn favourably during this day.

Muslims will attend Eid prayer in the morning and consecrate together harmoniously while taking the chance to meet and greet each other. Once the prayer is done, it is also common for Muslims in Malaysia to visit the grave of their loved ones. During this visit, they will clean the grave, perform the recital of the Yasin — a chapter (surah) from the Qur'an and also the tahlil or prayers for the deceased. All these are done in hope that their loved ones are blessed by God and they are spared from the punishment in the grave.

The rest of the day is spent visiting relatives or serving visitors. Hari Raya is a very joyous day for children for this is the day where adults are extra generous. Children will be given token sums of money, also known as 'duit raya' from their parents and elders.