Today is Thursday 1 Shawal 1434H / 8 August 2013 and Muslims through out the world celebrate Aidil Fitri the first day of Shawal after leaving behind the previous month of Ramadan, which saw Muslims observing the fast for the whole month beginning dawn to sunset. It is a great festive day seeing families getting together even meaning many returning home to their bases even if stationed or working in other parts of the country or even outside the country. This annual gathering allow parents to meet their siblings and other close relatives and friends. For today specifically Muslims are forbidden to fast though for the next six days starting tomorrow they may do so as so specified religiously.
For today especially visits to homes would mean being entertained to delicious servings of various kind of food and delicacies. Never the less it is the gathering with audible wishes of 'forgive and forget' or 'ampun dan maaf' between one another young and old, parents and siblings. The morning starts with the community gathering for the 'Aidilfitri' prayer at the nearby mosques and thereafter the love ones adjourning to the graves of their dear departed to offer prayers and respect.
Children especially enjoy this special festive days as they receive envelopes containing 'duit raya' from their elder relatives as well as their parents. The more energetic boys and girls who made their ways to the 'open houses' will gain a good collection laughing their way homes at the end of the day.
From the news report we hear that thousands gathered at two open houses held at Istana Negara Kuala Lumpur and Seri Perdana Putrajaya respectively held earlier in the day today. "Open House' will be held in other places too in the next few days throughout the country identifying the uniqueness of our Malaysian society.
Our visit to our neighbour early today meant that we had the golden opportunity to meet with Dato Paduka Mukhriz the Menteri Besar of Kedah and his wife. The Menteri Besar likewise would hold an 'open house' at Seri Mentaloon the official residence on 10th August 2013
The families meeting with the Menteri Besar of Kedah and wife.
Later in the day, the ' open house' concept saw its great success when families and friends convened at our home. It is an golden opportunity to meet with families far and near as well friends. Like wise we too take the opportunity to visit other homes as well binding closer unity and friendship.
This is one of the great virtue of Aidilfitri when we come together and forgive and forget apologizing for faults, mistakes or whatever that have transpired between one another in the past. The children especially live on to remember the celebration, the delicacies and the envelopes with Aidilfitri Ringgit Malaysia enclosed as token for the visits to homes.
Nonetheless families never failed to remember the dear departed, missing them for their non presence at this juncture and celebration.
2 comments:
We are not as fortunate, having bushes on three sides and the sea as our neighbours.
Sdr Al Manar,
Having the sea very close to you is the wishes of many but they never have that granted. You have the greatest treasure at hand. Alhamdullillah Shawal has been observed by the family and we look forward to the return of Ramadan. Hoping you had the best of Shawal too at Almanar.
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