I was recently scrolling through my camera roll when I came across this picture from back home.
This picture was taken about one to two years ago, when my family went over to Doro’s house to celebrate Hari Raya Haji, or Eid al-Adha, a monumental celebration for Muslim families. It was my first time celebrating this event, as most of the time, Haji is celebrated among Muslims, while Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Eid al-Fitr) is celebrated across cultures. As I talked about the celebration with my friends, I realized that even though Eid is a celebration for all Muslims, there are various differences with how we celebrate it/talk about it in Malaysia. Hence, for my cultural post, I decided to talk a bit about an important cultural celebration in Malaysia: Hari Raya.
Let’s break down the word:
Hari = day
Raya = grand/big
Combined, it means a grand day of celebration. Hence, when referring to the cultural event, we typically add another word to it, depending on the celebration itself.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. This year, it took place in early April. It is a widely celebrated event across Muslim communities and cultures, one celebrated with feasting, visiting family, and giving back to charity. In Malaysia, this event is grand. It is, after all, the biggest Muslim celebration in Malaysia. Back home, the government grants two days as a national public holiday.
Malaysians typically take advantage of the days off, taking extended leaves to match the weekend, where they would balik kampung (going back to one's hometown), with large-scale festivities across the nation. Families could host open houses, with big grand fireworks and a whole bunch of food, including a roasted lamb. In other words, this is a more universally festive and inclusive event, where non Muslims in Malaysia can, and often do, end up celebrating with their Muslim friends.
Hari Raya Haji, on the other hand, is arguably the more religious holiday. Otherwise known as Eid al-Adha, it is the commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. It coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, where Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia to visit the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, or the holiest city in Islam. It is a religious obligation for all Muslims who are physically and financially able to perform it at least once in their lifetime.
Typically, this event is described as more solemn in tone, as it is more closely tied to religion rather than culture. There’s overall less fanfare, as Muslim families shift their focus toward rituals, prayers, and community charity. While there are still social gatherings, they are overall more modest, with an emphasis on giving and reflection. The Malaysian government still grants a nationwide public holiday, though one day less than Aidilfitri.
As such, it is generally accepted that Hari Raya Haji is primarily catered toward Muslims whereas Hari Raya Aidilfitri has broader cultural celebration across communities. Either way, it is a monumental celebration for Muslims in Malaysia and represents a key aspect of Malaysian culture.
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