Hari Raya

Hari Raya is a special day for Muslims. During Hari Raya, people are encouraged to have fun but within limits. People will wear their new cloths; it is nice to see them in traditional Malay costumes. For the male, they will wear the baju melayu with samping and songkok.  The female has more choices, such as the kebaya, baju kurung or jubah. People will wear this attire in various colours. Bright colours such as red and yellow are favourites. Light and warm colours such as light green, purple, and ocean blue are also chosen to be worn on Hari Raya. The variety of colours really brightens up the mood for Hari Raya. The only colour that is not suitable to be worn on Hari Raya is the colour black. Black is associated with grief, so it does not suit the Hari Raya spirit.
Hari Raya is also about eating. Various types of traditional dishes will be prepared during Hari Raya. The famous ones are lemang, ketupat and rendang. Hari Raya will not be complete without these dishes. As time goes by, Hari Raya has also assimilated with other cultures. It is seen when maruku, roti canai, mooncake, and bakso are served during Hari Raya.
The “open house” is synonymous with Hari Raya. It is a special occasion when the organiser provides food and invites his friends and relatives to his house to enjoy food. The main purpose of holding such an event is to create a platform for people to gather and foster the bond between them. Many people like the “open house” because they can eat a lot for free.
Hari Raya is appreciated more by children. On Hari Raya, they could wear new clothes. They could also eat a variety of cookies.  The most important thing on Hari Raya is that the children will receive the duit raya. Adults are encouraged to donate money to the children. The concept of duit raya is quite similar to the Chinese ang pow. The difference is the colour of the envelope. For the Chinese it is red in colour while for the Malays it is green. During my time, I managed to receive up to RM 100. Usually, parents will advise their children to save the money in the bank. This culture is good as it educates children to start to save since their childhood.
Hari Raya is only celebrated once a year. Yet, the memories last for a year. It is a very special day with lots of beneficial activities enjoyed by many people.