By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
After two years of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, finally, the dream of celebrating in one’s hometown is the most beautiful moment in an individual’s life.
Despite the excitement of Aidilfitri this year, some may be sad because some of us may have lost family members due to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Despite having to accept the reality of celebrating Eid without loved ones, life must go on.
The writer would like to share the excitement of the Aidilfitri celebration in my hometown. It indeed reconciles the soul and gives a thousand meanings that are difficult to describe in words.
The tranquility and peace in the village is what I miss the most. The hustle and bustle of the cosmopolitan city continues to disappear in the mind after being in my beloved village, feeling the serenity as I listen to the crickets’ rhythm permeating the cool night.
I miss my mother’s traditional cooking the most. Dishes of lemang, ketupat, lontong, nasi himpit, kuah kacang and various types of rendang are the main menu for having breakfast with the family before going to the mosque to perform raya prayers.
Similarly, traditional cakes such as dodol, kuih bangkit, bahulu, putu kacang and many more are sure to whet your appetite.
After the Eid prayers, this is the most soul-teasing time for every family member.
This is the time to cleanse the soul from sins over mistakes against family members, especially parents.
When apologizing, tears will surely fall as a sign of realizing the mistake of another time.
But the most exciting, especially for children, is when they receive ‘duit raya’ from family.
It’s time to celebrate with relatives, friends and neighbours. Meeting relatives after years apart is certainly exciting, there are too many stories to share.
The consensus of the community in my hometown is closely intertwined with the presence of visitors. Every guest visiting will bring with them a dish as a traditional offering.
Visits from non-Muslims indeed strengthen the sense of goodwill. This is the privilege of Malaysians who are multi-racial. All celebrations are shared with joy and harmony.
Such is the uniqueness of the balik kampung tradition that it is a must.
No matter how far someone is abroad, celebrating Eid in their hometown is the most meaningful. The satisfaction and fun of celebrating in the village has incomparable value..
Without family, mother’s cooking, lemang, rendang and the greenery of nature in the hometown, Hari Raya is meaningless!!
