New norms need to be embraced
In Malaysia, Eidul Fitri is the most awaited celebration for the Muslims. It is a day to celebrate after a month of fasting to control one’s desires and performing religious duties such as zakat (donation) and prayers.
Throngs of families will swarm the highways several days before the Eid to get back to their villages, celebrating the special day with their parents.
Houses will be cleaned, old curtains and sofas will be changed to new ones.
The ladies will be busy in the kitchen preparing assorted variety of kuih raya (Eid biscuits), nasi
impit (compressed rice cooked in coconut leaves), lodeh (vegetable stew), rendang (slow-cooked curry of chicken or beef) and satay (chicken/beef barbeque). Meanwhile, the men will be preparing more laborious task outside the house i.e. preparing the
lemang (glutinous rice soaked in coconut milk and cooked in bamboo) and dodol (sweet-like toffee confection) which needs to be stirred for hours in a big pot. After the Eid prayer in the morning, families will gather around for a big meal.
This is the time to seek forgiveness from parents and among siblings.
The children will be looking forward to this as they will get small packets of money as gifts.
They will then visit nearby relatives, friends and families. At night, the festivities continue with children playing fireworks and kerosene-lit lanterns which are placed around the compound of the houses.
At least, that was the way we traditionally celebrate the Eidul Fitri in Malaysia.
However, this year things will be different.
We celebrate Eidul Fitri and pray at home, at best have a video call with our parents, families and friends. No gathering is allowed and social distancing is a must. And this is the new norms that we have to embrace. As one hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) that if there is a plague in an area, one must not go to or leave the area. This reflects to the principle of modern day quarantine. Indeed, COVID-19 has changed our lives. The Eidul Fitri this year may not be the same anymore. By the grace of Allah, may this
Eid bring you joy, happiness as well as peace and prosperity for you and your family.
Despite the hardship, there could be something positive out of it.
Eid Mubarak!
This year things will be different. We celebrate Eidul Fitri and pray at home, at best have a video call with our parents, families and friends