Ramadan and Raya redefined
As Syawal approaches, local celebrities reflect on how Covid-19 has changed their Ramadan and Raya rituals, and share the insights they have gained.
NO physical Ramadan bazaars. No interstate balik kampung travels for Hari Raya. These are some of the festive rituals that are banned now due to social distancing and the movement control order (MCO) to prevent the spread of Covid-19. While they miss these beloved traditions, local celebrities are choosing to see the blessings the MCO has brought them, such as the increase in quality time spent with their family, an appreciation for the little things in life often taken for granted, and the opportunity to do good and help those in need. Here are their stories.
A changed life
Ramadan has been especially hard for actress Puteri Aishah, who was diagnosed with Covid-19 on April 7.
The 25-year-old (pic) had flown to Inverness, Scotland, to film a drama series, Demi, on March 9, before the movement control order (MCO) took effect. She flew home on March 31.
A few days after a crew member tested positive for Covid-19, she immediately got herself screened, which confirmed her fears.
The actress spent 11 days being treated at the hospital. “The first few days in the ward, I felt devastated, discouraged and depressed. I never imagined I would go through this, and go through it alone,” she tells StarLifestyle.
“Thankfully, the frontliners and the other patients were so supportive. I tried to reduce my worries and I focused on making other people in my ward happy. That’s how I stayed positive.”
After she was discharged, the actress continued to quarantine herself at home.
“The biggest challenge this Ramadan is I couldn’t spend it with my loved ones. There was a time where I felt really sad about it.”
But the Pulang star says the illness and the time spent alone gave her a new perspective on life.
“This experience has changed my life. It helped me deepen my faith. I’ve started to pray five times a day. I’ve started living a healthy and positive lifestyle. I’ve started to appreciate the people who are there for me.
“I’ve started to not take life for granted.”
After making her film debut in the action flick Wira late last year, actress fify Azmi was excited to get more acting roles.
She had just finished a telemovie for tV3 and was signed up to shoot two serials.
“In one of the series, I was to play an antagonist. I was so excited to get this part and to start the shoot.”
But before filming could begin, the world experienced the Covid-19 pandemic and all productions were halted.
“right now, I am just rehearsing at home, with the script that I have, to make sure I play the parts I have been given perfectly.
She says: “I was told filming might resume in June, if all goes well.”
Since the start of MCO, fify has been staying with her mum in Subang Jaya, Selangor, instead of at her own apartment. She’s joined by her twin sister, and one brother. Another brother is staying with his family.
“My mother lives alone, so we all decided to just stay with her when the MCO was announced,” she shares. “I thought this would be a good time to be with her, which I couldn’t do often previously as I was busy with work.”
this turned out to be a smart decision as ramadan arrived and the MCO was still in place.
While this year’s ramadan is definitely different from all the previous years, fify says her family has taken this opportunity to turn iftar and sahur into a daily family activity.
“We will plan together what to cook for iftar, from looking at the ingredients, preparcook clean ing them and finally ing the dishes. And we up together as well,” says fify, who turned 30 last month.
“Previously, we would buy kuih muih from bazaar ramadan for dessert. But this year, we are making them ourselves. We have been ordering outside food as well, but we prefer to cook.” She adds: “I can only cook simple dishes like sambal, assam pedas and lauk kicap. My mother will make more complicated dishes, and we will help her.
“I have learned a few recipes from her, like our family’s staple dish during Hari raya, mi Siam Singapura or mi Siam berkuah, which is from my father’s side in Singapore.
As for sahur, it is kept simple with just bread and a chocolate drink, or soup and rice.
One thing that fify does miss dearly is breaking fast with all her girlfriends in one big group, which she used to do on weekends on previous ramadans.
fify says she still “hangs out” with them with the help of technology – “we are constantly on this app Plato, playing games and chatting (it’s addictive)” – but not during mealtimes.
“I also miss going to the bazaar to look at all the food on sale. My sister and I had planned to sell kuih at this year’s bazaar too, which we had to cancel.”
As for Syawal, fify says her family has decided to just stay put in Subang Jaya.
“All of our relatives are from Johor and Singapore. We are the only ones here (in Selangor). So, it will be just my family this raya.
“It will be quiet, not so meriah (joyous), but safety and health come first.”