Tips for an awesome but less stressful Hari Raya

“This Raya will be very meaningful me. It will be the first time I will be celebrating Raya as a wife (she married Tengku Sharifuddin Shah Tengku Sulaiman in April).

“The first two days of Raya, I will be celebrating with my husband’s family in Shah Alam. I am eager to meet and build a relationship with his relatives.

“On the third day of Raya, I will be bringing my husband to Bagan Datuk in Perak to visit my family. I am sure he will be eager to meet my relatives, too.

“After Raya, I plan to be more active in my fashion and accessory business.” HARI RAYA is the time of celebration with family and friends near and far, many of whom will be braving the balik kampung jams to be with their loved ones.

For those who are hosting a Hari Raya open house on the first day of Syawal, do not take on more than you can handle as the struggle is real and can be very stressful.

So, here are some tips to make the celebration a happy and less stressful one.

Don’t cook for 30 visitors by yourself This is not the time to be experimental. Cooking for 30 or more people require lots of skills, preparation, time and effort.

Instead, outsource it to the experts. Find a good caterer, and at the most, supplement the buffet with one or two of your signature dishes to keep family members happy.

Reserve a room for guests This is especially important if you are expecting guests travelling from outstation. As they might be staying over for Raya, set up a cosy, dedicated room or area for them to perform prayers or to rest.

Don’t make cookies and cakes till the wee hours Although having a long dessert spread is in your wish list for Hari Raya, don’t feel pressured to do it all by yourself.

Order some best-selling desserts from recommended bakers or home cooks, and top up with some storebought items.

Delegate the workload Planning for an open house can be tiring. Booking the tents, sending out invitations, decorating the house, ordering food and preparing goodie bags are some of the things that need to be done.

If it is too much for you to handle, get the other family members to chip in or find a good party planner to handle it.

This way, you can sit back and enjoy the festivities as well as catch up on the gossips and news.

Selamat Hari Raya Adilfitri!