By Anas Nilambur for TwoCircles.net,
‘Rumah Tertbuk’, the open house in Malaysia drew its curtain on 30 Shawwal throwing voluptuous dinner parties and feasts marking the end of one month long Eid celebrations. All Malays, irrespective of their religions, were paying visit to their relatives, friends and neighbours for the last one month since the day of Eidul Fitr as they celebrate the great day for the whole month exchanging their love.
The real charm of all universal festivals lies in the diversity with which they are treated and celebrated across the world. Each region has its own unique way of celebration evolved over a period in consonance with its indigenous customs and traditions. My first Eid in Malaysia this year was such a memorable experience that I wished we had the same exquisite festive ambience in our country too.
Break fast after Eid prayer
Since the school where I work is located on a hilltop, sheltered and secluded by thick vegetation, I would have missed the entire celebration of Eid if I had not moved out. I set off for the International Islamic University, Gombak, where I had managed to befriend with a few students. The main purpose of the visit to Gombak was my desire to explore Malaysia and its culture; and Gombak, a typical rustic village of Malaysia, was definitely one of the better choices.
The fancy fireworks already started creating colourful umbrellas in the sky when we set out to have a look around the village. We were invited for a ‘Thakbeer programme’ to a nearest house that began soon after the Isha Prayer in which all neighbours sit together, chant Thakbeer, have a short treat and move to the next house. The lanterns kept lit around a few houses roused my curiosity. Mr. Haji Koya Kutty, the publisher of Islamic Books Trust in KualaLampur, said that these lanterns were lit since the 20th day of Ramadan as a custom to welcome the ‘Lailathul Quadr’ and some houses would keep them for a few days in the month of Shawwal.
The Malays start baking different mouth-watering cookies during the month of fast for ‘The Open House’ in view of welcoming their guests. ‘The open House’-‘Rumah Tertbuk’ in Malay- remain open throughout the month of Shawwal to receive nears and dears who will have a light refreshment from there. Every year thousands throng into the house of the Prime Minister and other leaders to attend the ‘Open House’ of the top brass of the Peninsula as it provides the common people with an opportunity to meet and shake hands with their own rulers. Precisely, the Eid, ‘Hari Raya’ as they call, is a celebration lasting for a month.
The tourists and other visitors were advised to avoid travelling on the eve of Eid as the whole city will get jammed in traffic when thousands of city dwellers make a bee line to their own families and parents in villages. I was advised not to visit farther places as the traffic snarl was likely to persist for a couple of days! Almost everybody would try to reach their natal homes for ‘Barmaf Maafan’, a very exemplary custom I had ever witnessed. In ‘Barmaf Maafan’ every member of the family gathers in the living room or a spacious place in or out of the house and pleads forgiveness from each other, and sometimes it ends in emotional reconciliation. ‘Barmaf Maafan’ normally takes place soon after the Eid prayer and is followed by a light breakfast for all family members.
Later they leave for their own homes to have lunch with all ethnic food items. Ketupat, a cake made of rice powder, Rendang, a tasty dish of beef and Lemang, rice cooked inside bamboo are a few famous ethnic food items kept along with the main course as a mandatory custom.
‘Duit Raya’ means an act of giving out money to small children for creating a sense of charity that amplifies their generosity and love, in which parents, grandparents and relatives give children in their clan a monetary gift in green paper envelops. Children of other races, too, are given Duit raya when they visit the homes of Muslims during Hari Raya. Nearly all banks prepare special envelops for free distribution to their customers during this season.
In short, Eidul Fitr is one of the longest celebrations lasting for a month in the Peninsula. I envy that in Malaysia all take part in everyone’s celebrations happily despite there are many races and religions migrated and settled down.
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Anas Nilambur is a teacher in Malayasia