Happy Aidil Fitri

FINALLY, after a month of fasting in Ramadhan, we face the month of Syawal with great anticipation. The first of Syawal is the day of celebration. In Malaysia, it is called Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. This is the time Muslims all over the world will celebrate the victory of fasting in the whole month of Ramadhan. It is the symbol of triumph for one's success in surpressing hunger and desires and is a way of cleansing the soul. During Ramadhan, we have to abstain ourselves from eating, drinking, sexual relationships and bickering until sunset. This is the month to teach us about patience, empathy towards the poor and gratefulness towards God's gifts. Aidil Fitri or Eid will mark the celebration of our success to fight all evils and to purify oneself from sins during the whole month.

In Malaysia, Aidil Fitri is celebrated with families and friends. Families will always come first. This is the time sons and daughters will visit parents and return to their homeland or place of birth or childhood to celebrate Eid together. The terms which we fondly call Balik Kampung. A feast of traditional food will be laid on the table. Aidil Fitri will not be complete without our traditional lemang, ketupat and rendang, to name a few. Usually, a day before Aidil Fitri, the whole family will work their sweat out to do the preparation. Work will be delegated among family members. While the women will normally be sweating out in the kitchen, pounding and blending, stirring and frying, the men will be burning lemang or doing the odd jobs. A true Malaysian spirit, what we call gotong royong.

This years Aidil Fitri was celebrated with the joy of seeing families and siblings get together. Visits from relatives and the return visit the day after, showed the spirit of comradship do still exist. All differences of opinions and ways of doing things were put aside for the sake of Aidil Fitri. People shake hands and ask forgiveness of past wrong doings and love is rekindled and strenghtened.

Aidil Fitri to me may not be as excited as it was twenty years ago, but the spirit that it brings will never die. With two bundle of joys at their most inquisitive mood, Aidil Fitri was more meaningful now. It put a smile on my lips to see how excited the children were in celebrating this day. And yes, they are the most that benefit from this celebration! They will be going to the bank smiling!