Reminiscing about past Raya celebrations
KUCHING: Celebrating this Hari Raya Aidilfitri will be very different for five individuals here during Conditional Movement Control Order.
Mohd Ziaolhaq Qazi Zada, 34, a postgraduate student here could not go home to celebrate with his family at Herat, Afghanistan after studying here for two years.
“Eid celebration in Malaysia is amazing. Unlike Malaysia, we only celebrate it for three days. However, the womenfolk in my hometown tend visit relatives and friends for one month.”
He elaborated that on the first day, they usually visit immediate family members and neighbors after Eid prayers and visit friends and distant relatives on the second and third days. Usually dried and fresh fruits, sweets, cakes and tea are served.
“Sadly I have to spend this Eid in campus as we are not allowed to leave though I have many locals and international friends. It would be my most isolated Eid,’ he shared.
Chambering lawyer Abang Mohd Firdaus Abang Maludin, 31, will miss the festivities like previous years.
“Usually on the eve, we are at home in matching coloured outfits and after ‘subuh’ prayer we take a forty-minute drive to my grandfather’s house at Kpg Tebekang Melayu, Serian.
“In the kampung, the “bedok” (traditional Malay drum) call for prayers with everyone walking to the surau.That togetherness is what makes Aidilfitri at Kpg Tebekang memorable. I will miss that, “he said.
Senior Manager for an oil and gas company, Norazibah Md Rabu missed the excitement from Ramadah terawih prayers at the mosque, Ramadan Bazaar, shopping, praying with other Muslims, visiting relatives and friends which include long road trips to Sebuyau and Sri Aman.
She will be having a simple celebration though her children are getting restless at home.
Meanwhile, Siti Norhazirah Abdul Rahman Junaidi, 28, will be celebrating Raya alone as a student in Melbourne, Australia.
“The spirit of Eid Al Fitr is not only about gathering with loved ones. It is also about sacrifice and acknowledgement of what is really important,” she said.
Like the others interviewed by thesundaypost, Setia Ken, 54, a school principal will miss the big family gathering at her mother’s village house this Hari Raya.
“As my mother is 85, we will not be celebrating at her house this year or receive guests to minimise risk of infection.My mum is very sad as she can’t meet up with all her children, grandchildren and other relatives,” she said adding she planned to celebrate with her husband and two children at home as another child is stuck in Kuala Lumpur.