Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Just in case you’re new to Singapore and your muslim friends invite you over for a makan (food) session… below are some dos and don’ts to note!
1. What is Hari Raya
It’s finally the first day of the month of Shawwal…
Thee Islamic holy month of fasting or Ramadhan has officially come to an end
and if you’re out and about enjoying your Celebration Day
and getting together with family and friends for the Feast of …Breaking the Fast.
It’s Lynette Tan wishing you Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Drive safe if you’re on your way back to your hometown…
Days 1 to 3 of Hari Raya Puasa are usually celebrated on a grand scale –
houses are thoroughly cleaned and decorated, everyone in the family dons new clothes of a similar hue
And friends and family gather in the evenings to feast on cakes, sweets, biscuits, ketupat or rice cakes, rendang or spicy beef dishes
It’s also customary to “balik kampung” or return to the village of origin to seek forgiveness from elders and close relations
Charitable donations are also given to the poor during this time so they can also celebrate the festival along with the rest of the Muslim community
Along with special prayers that are offered to commemorate the occasion
Special green packets and sweet treats are prepared and given to children to celebrate the victory of self-restraint, purification and renewal.
2. Customs during Hari Raya
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri from Expat Radio 96.3XFM
The first day of the festival usually starts off with the Eid prayer
Muslim men would congregate for a time of corporate devotion at the local mosques
After which they’ll return home to their families and everyone puts on new clothes
Before heading off to visit elders and relatives to seek forgiveness
During each visit, the host greets each guest with “Selamat Hari Raya” or “Happy Eid”,
and then the younger would say to the older
“Maaf zahir dan batin” which means “forgive my physical and emotional wrongdoings
and after exchanging other pleasantries
They all settle for a time of feasting around the table
While it’s not uncommon for multiple families to visit an elder’s home together
It can get quite crowded sometimes
So as more families show up at the house, other families would take their leave and make their way to visit another home
Or they’ll head home to receive guests as well and this goes on for one whole month
3. The things that completes the festival – food and clothes
I dunno about you but I count myself truly blessed because every Hari Raya,
my Muslim neighbour would deliver a tray full of deliciously spicy dishes right to our doorstep!
The yummy selection includes spicy beef rendang, which is a meat dish,
lon tong as well, which is basically rice cakes soaked in a vegetable and coconut milk broth
2 Sambal telurs or hard-boiled eggs with chilli paste
Along with a couple of tasty turmerick marinated fried chicken drumsticks…hmm mmm
And to round it all up
we end on a high with kueh kuehs or sweet treats
Like pineapple tarts, sugi biscuits made from almonds, makmur which is a pastry filled with ground peanuts and topped with icing sugar, honey-clustered cornflakes and many more
And just in case you’ve been invited to a Muslim home to feast on these delicious treats during this festive season
Never bring wine and always dress modestly.
