DAWN

Before I went on hiatus next week for just a week, I should do a ‘what is Raya?’ post. Because next week is Aidilfitri, the day we celebrate after a month fasting and I gotta celebrate it cuz, it’s raya, who doesn’t want to celebrate after a month of fasting. Also, the way we celebrate Aidilfitri is different from other countries so you better ask other Muslim countries how they celebrate Aidilfitri.

What is Raya/Aidilfitri?

Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Aidilfitri as we called at Southeast Asia, is the day we celebrate after a month of us fasting throughout Ramadan. It is an important day for us Muslims to celebrate. Aidilfitri usually celebrate according to the Islamic calendar, that is 1st Syawal. Also, it is forbidden to fast at 1st Syawal because it’s Aidilfitri. What? Don’t you want to celebrate after a month of fasting? Only days after 1st Syawal, you can continue fasting or replacing the fasting days you missed during Ramadan.

Aidilfitri is also a public holiday to Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei. Malaysia got 1-2 weeks of holiday, depends on your location.

What do we do during Raya/Aidilfitri?

It is a custom or a must for us to return back to our hometown to celebrate Aidilfitri as a FAMILY. Some people would set up oil lamps outside their home as decoration.

Before the day, the night before 1st Syawal, there is a thing called ‘Takbir Raya’ or Raya calling. ‘Takbir Raya’ is just like Azan, but there are some lines created for Aidilfitri/Aidiladha. Like this one below:

During the morning, us Muslims must perform a particular Solat, known as Solat Sunat Aidilfitri. This particular Solat requires 2 Rakaat, the first Rakaat has 7 takbir while the second one has 5 rakaat. After we do Solat, there will be a short khutbah after that.

It is a custom for us to wear traditional clothes during Aidilfitri. Men/boys wear Baju Melayu with kain songket and kopiah while women/girls wear Baju Kebaya or Baju Kurung, like the ones below:

it doesn’t have to be the same colour tho

In Malaysia, it is a common thing for us to do ‘open houses’ during Syawal. The reason we do ‘open houses’ is because we invite people, doesn’t matter religion or people, to join us celebrating Raya. Some places have traditional bamboo fire canons. Yes, I mean it, traditional bamboo fire canons, we use them to have fun during Raya. We know it’s dangerous but, it’s a thing for us to play canons so yeah…

It is also a custom for us to visit other people during Raya or throughout Syawal. Giving them some help also a thing.

Is There Any Food During Raya?

Oh yes! We do have food during Raya! What kind of Raya celebrate without food? Since Malaysia is part of Southeast Asia, we tell our Raya version of our best cuisine. Here are the popular ones:

This is Ketupat, a popular dish during Raya throughout Southeast Asia, it is a cooked rice wrapped with young palm leaves. It is usually eaten with Rendang.

This is Rendang, also a popular dish. It is a spicy meat dish and has a lot of varieties. Like rendang ayam (Chicken rendang) and rendang kambing (Mutton rendang).

This is lemang, it is made from glutinous rice, coconut milk and salt, wrapped with banana leaves and cooked inside a bamboo. 

There is also serunding, lontong, dodol, tapai pulut and the usuals kuih-muih.

We also serve ‘kuih raya’. Kuih Raya is just desserts we tend to serve throughout Syawal, it has A LOT of varieties. I mean it, like below:

delicious huh?

Extra Information:

Sometimes we like to play fireworks during Raya, even though it was banned, Apologizing to your elders/parents/siblings or basically anyone you know, Raya songs are a thing at here and I think that’s it…

Oh? I almost forgot, if you are unemployed, young child/adult, still single, you can get duit raya or money from your elders/parents or people from the houses you visit. That’s the best part during Raya

That’s it! That’s all the information about how we celebrate Raya in Malaysia. Any information you would like to share is always open!

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