By Johan Aziz
No ‘lemang’ during Raya makes overseas students pine for home
KENINGAU: The absence of ‘lemang’ during celebration of Hari Raya overseas by Malaysian students has made them long to be at their hometown in Malaysia.
This was what was voiced by Malaysian students studying in Canada when celebrating Hari Raya overseas together with their other Malaysian colleagues.
“There is a distinct longing for home when ‘lemang’ is not served during Hari Raya,” said Sherly Pranchis, who is from Keningau.
Sherly, who is currently studying at a university in Canada, said this was what she heard from her compatriots when attending a Hari Raya Aidilfitri event at the Malaysian students’ home in Vancouver, Canada.
“The food during Hari Raya celebrations overseas are not much different with those found in our country. We would cook together a Malaysian menu comprising curry chicken, beef ‘rendang’, Raya biscuits and ketupat. We only do not have ‘lemang’ which makes me and my friends miss home,” she said in a comment sent through WhatsApp.
Sherly said the Hari Raya atmosphere overseas is also like in Malaysia except for limited visiting. So they organize the event at the Malaysian students’ homes.
She said the atmosphere is lively as students from other countries were also present and they would sing Hari Raya songs together to make the atmosphere like in Malaysia.
“It is a simple but lively celebration with fellow students and family members from the Malaysian Embassy in Canada and fellow students from other countries.
“My friends from the Peninsular say they miss their kampung because of the absence of ‘lemang’ in Canada as there is no time to prepare.
“We hope for future Raya we will be able to prepare ‘lemang’ and celebrate the event with students of the final year of the Department of Nutrition, Biotic and Medicine,” she said.
Sherly and all students studying at the university send their Hari Raya Aidil Fitri wishes to all their families, relatives and friends in Malaysia.
For Sherly’s father, Francis Andin, when met here, he expressed a sense of longing for the children to be together during Hari Raya, as parents pray for a Raya celebration with Canadian students of various nationalities.