Hari Raya Puasa 2013

Hari Raya Puasa is a festive celebrated by Muslims. Hari Raya literally means ‘celebration day’, and Hari Raya Puasa is the day that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of dawn-to-sunset fasting. Hari Raya Puasa is considered one of the two most important celebrations for Muslims, the other being Hari Raya Haji.

Hari Raya is one of the biggest holidays in Malaysia, and many Muslims (and even non-Muslims) balik kampung, driving or flying home for a couple of days before thefestive to be with their families and loved ones.

The festive sees families and friends seeking forgiveness from each other, visiting ancestors’ graves, prayers at the mosque as well as visiting relatives and friends to feast traditional Malay delicacies like ketupat, rendang, satay, lemang and curry. In Malaysia, children are given token sums of money  from their parents or elders.

The Ramadan period has communal aspects to it, with many of the basic values of the Muslim community, such as empathy for the poor, charity, worship, steadfastness, and patience, being expressed more during this period.

During Ramadan, decorations of kampung houses, ketupats, oil lamps and colorful lights decorate big malls like Mid Valley, One Utama, Pavilion, Sunway Pyramid and the Curve. Little shops alike are decorated in the lead-up.

Across the country, the Ramadan month provides great food choices for those who like to sample authentic Malay cuisines. Ramadan bazaars are set up across various neighborhoods like Pantai Dalam, TTDI, Section 17, Section 14, Kelana Jaya, and Cheras, with a huge selection of food stalls lining the streets.

Every year in Malaysia, large corporations like Petronas, Maxis, Digi, Proton, and Perodua sponsor special television advertisements to celebrate Hari Raya. These advertisements are usually very interesting, especially those that were directed by the late Yasmin Ahmad, and centre around family values and love.