HOW MALABARI PEOPLE CELEBRATE HARI RAYA PUASA IN MALAYSIA

By Hussain bin Abu Bakar

   Hari Raya Puasa or Aidilfitri is a day expected by every Muslim people around the world, especially children. In this article, I will discuss, how our race celebrates hari raya puasa in this country.

    As we all know, our great grandfathers and grandmothers have been here for long time ago before Malaysia achieved independence. May be at that time, they were still celebrating Hari Raya following Malabari culture in Kerala. But time changes everything, Malabaris in Malaysia have more or less ‘converted’ themselves into Malay culture. The way we dress e.g. baju kurung, baju melayu and food, like nasi lemak, ketupat, rendang and lemang follows Malay culture.

Hari Raya in ‘Kampung’(Village)

   In kampung, Malabari celebrate Hari Raya in same way like in town but in the surroundings in kampung is quiet because in kampong. There is usually no other Malabari family besides your own and surrounded by Malay families.

   “Hari Mantai“ is one of Negeri Sembilan traditions, where people sell fresh meat (not sure if is also done in other states) on the day of seeing ‘anak bulan Syawal’. On this day, the men are busy selling and buying a fresh beef, buffalo meat and chicken. At the same time, women are also busy preparing ketupat, lemang dodol and cooking rendang and nut gravy.
   On the Hari Raya eve, they have a gathering after Takbir Raya and Isyak prayers. In some places after ‘Takbir Raya’ in mosque they will visit from house to house to recite ‘takbir’. The house owner will serve them with lemang, rendang and ketupat.

   1st day Hari Raya, we get ready to go to the mosque for Aidil Fitri prayers and come back for breakfast. We “salam” and ask for forgiveness from our parents, uncles, aunties, and grandmother. In the evening, all men and boys go to “ziarah kubur” of our relative. 2nd Hari Raya is usually less eventful than the 1st Hari Raya. We will spent more time watching TV. Sometimes our relatives will come to visit us.

Hari Raya in Town

   In town, all preparation in Raya eve is the same as in kampung except that here, there is no ‘Hari Mantai’. In my family, two days before Raya, we will get together in my uncle house, for cooking lemang, rendang and dodol. 1st Hari Raya, more or less like in kampong but the difference is that every family celebrates with their own children and grandchildren. On 2nd Raya onwards most of Malabari family nowadays busy with open houses, inviting relatives and friends for open house. Some of Malabari will choose 2nd Hari Raya for visit their relative or friends, go home to in-laws house. In town, along month of Syawal, every weekend we will receive invitation for open house.

   Every Malabari family has their own way celebrate Hari Raya. Some families are still keeping Malabari culture like having breakfast with Pathiri. As for me, whichever culture -either Malay or Malabari- we choose to celebrate Hari Raya, we are still Malabaris. Thank you.