Far apart yet close at heart during Syawal
KUALA LUMPUR: The message in 80s song Indahnya Beraya di Desa sung by Azlina Aziz for children living in the city to balik kampung (return to their village) to be with their parents and go visiting to foster closer ties, fires up the Aidilfitri spirit in many.
Malaysians who fasted during Ramadan anxiously await this chance to celebrate together, with the tradition little changed over the years, except now the Government has imposed strict rules on marking Hari Raya to break the chain of Covid-19 infections.
While in the past celebrations lasted the whole month of Syawal, and you could visit anywhere and anytime, now there is a standard operating procedure (SOP) to follow that has banned interstate travel, open houses and gatherings of more than 20 immediate family members on the first day of Aidilfitri.
The custom to salam and visit the gravesite of loved ones is also disallowed while the conditional movement control order (CMCO) is in force.
It’s not going to be a normal Aidilfitri for Zurina Mohd Ali, 59, and husband, Md Wazilah Ismail, 61, in Sungai Ara, Pulau Pinang, who are usually readying the home for the return of their three children and doing the most important task of all — baking the muchloved chocolate rice cookies and pineapple tarts — about a week before Syawal arrives.
“This is the first time I’m celebrating Aidilfitri without my children,” said Zurina who has had to accept that these restrictions are for the good of all.
Despite the new norm, and sans the joy and laughter of her three grandchildren, Syawal will still be a celebration of thanksgiving for them, with the house decorated, new sets of clothes ready to be worn and Raya dishes like ketupat, rendang, serunding and nasi tomato to be made for sharing with those dear and near.
Zurina hopes a video call she is planning with her children and grandchildren on the first morning of Aidilfitri will remedy not seeing them in the flesh.
It is also the first time Murni Md Rejab, 32, from Shah Alam, Selangor is not taking a long holiday to spend Aidilfitri in her kampung (village) in Permatang Berangan, Sungai Petani in Kedah.
“Close to Raya, all of us in the kampung would be getting the house clean and ready with new curtains and carpets, setting up the lampu pelita (paraffin torches/lamps) and making kuih Raya (cookies), but this year no. Of course it’s sad, but what to do? I did buy my mum her baju Raya (celebration clothes) early, though.
“Her duit Raya will be banked in, too. Love doesn’t just stop because I can’t meet, hug and kiss her. My mum said to me that if you can’t come home, just stay where you are till things get better,” said Murni, while admitting she is going to miss her mum’s nasi briyani and bihun sup which she usually makes at Raya.
She said her three housemates aren’t able to return to their kampung either, so they’ve all decided to decorate the house, buy kuih Raya and make laksa Utara on the first day of Hari Raya.
“It would be better if the government made the rules stricter like during the movement control order (MCO). Not going visiting during Raya is OK because now many are being defiant and think Covid-19 has gone,” Murni said. — Bernama