BY SHARIFAH NONG-JASIMA
KUCHING: Muslims around the world celebrated Hari Raya Aidilfitri on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, a joyous occasion marking the peak of a month of fasting, prayer and reflection.
However, for many Muslims living far from their homelands, Hari Raya Aidilfitri takes on a unique significance, intertwining elements of tradition, nostalgia and adaptation in foreign lands.
Muhammad Jefferson Liew, 37, currently serving as Secretary to the Ambassador at the Embassy of Malaysia in Vietnam, is celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri in Hanoi with his family for the second consecutive year since relocating there.
Celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri overseas due to his professional commitments, Jefferson and his family have been accustomed to this experience since 2012, previously observing the occasion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and in Caracas, Venezuela, before their current residence in Hanoi.
“I miss spending precious Hari Raya moments at my wife’s family’s traditional house in the kampung in Bukit Baru, Malacca.
“My children especially miss going Hari Raya visiting and spending Hari Raya playing firecrackers with their cousins,” Jefferson reminisced.
He also said that there are some challenges when celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri abroad in particular his children grumbling about missing the delicious meals and cakes with their grandparents, uncles and aunties, and especially spending time with their cousins.
“We satisfy those longing by cooking and baking cookies that they crave for; so, we make my mother-in-law’s chicken sambal, daging parameswara and lamb rendang.
“We also bake kek batik, bean tarts, kuih momo and semperit,” Jefferson added.
Buddhism is the main religion in Vietnam, so observing and celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri is rare there as the Muslim community is quite small.
“Despite schools remaining open during Hari Raya, my wife and I make efforts to educate our children on the significance of Ramadan and Syawal, and I’m thankful that our two eldest children have successfully completed full-day fasts this Ramadan,” Jefferson said.
He noted that Hanoi is home to only one mosque, Masjid Al Noor, where Raya congregational prayers are typically held, followed by a Hari Raya Open House hosted by the Ambassador of Malaysia, providing an opportunity for Malaysians residing in Hanoi to join in the celebration.
“For those marking Hari Raya Aidilfitri overseas for the first time, my advice is to seek out the nearest Malaysian Embassy or Consulate General of Malaysia, or locate the nearest mosque for guidance and information,” he adviced.
Meanwhile, Qarin Amani Zara Zin, a 22-year-old student at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand says that celebrating Hari Raya abroad is quite similar to celebrating back home as she celebrates the festivities with friends.
“It’s fulfilling to honour my cultural heritage alongside my friends here, dressing in our traditional attire and preparing Malaysian meals together; and it’s equally rewarding to introduce our culture to our international friends,” Qarin expressed.
While she finds joy in celebrating Hari Raya with friends, what she longs for the most from her celebrations in Sarawak is the presence of her family.
However, she has gained insights into the diverse ways her international friends celebrate Hari Raya, contrasting with the Malaysian traditions she’s accustomed to.
“Many of my non-Malaysian Muslim friends were surprised when I mentioned that Malaysians, particularly Sarawakians, celebrate Hari Raya for as long as a month,” she remarked, vividly recalling the expressions on her friends’ faces.
As a university student, Qarin finds it challenging to make time for celebrating Hari Raya, particularly in a country where there is no public holiday for the occasion.
Nevertheless, she has come up with a solution by rescheduling her Hari Raya festivities with friends to the weekend or choosing a day when everyone is available to celebrate together.
“For me, the only thing that has changed is Hari Raya is no longer a major public holiday but the Muslim community, it is still a big celebration with fireworks and festivals, and I am grateful that my non-Muslim friends are always excited and interested in learning more about Hari Raya,” Qarin added.
But Qarin said that celebrating Hari Raya away from home can evoke feelings of loneliness and isolation, particularly for those experiencing it abroad for the first time.
She emphasises that staying connected through phone calls or video calls with friends and family back home can provide a sense of belonging and comfort during this time.
Abang Ariq Althaf Abang Asri, 19, a student at the University of Melbourne, Australia, shares that he celebrates Hari Raya with friends, regardless of whether they come from the same country or share the same cultural background.
“While I am aware that I am not performing the Raya congregation prayers in my hometown, I try to uphold Hari Raya prayers on the first day of Syawal with the Muslim community,” he said.
Ariq added that one of his favourite memories of celebrating Hari Raya back home is the feeling of having everyone together under one roof, and there is nothing like Raya morning where everyone is in their best dress; excited to be united once more.
But thankfully with modern technology, Ariq is still able to keep in touch with his family through video calls and that has helped him feel close to his family.
“The local mosques in Australia do a great job of trying to replicate the community for those living far away from their respective homes, and those staying overseas should try make friends who are also celebrating the festivities.
“I found that being in a community where fellow Malaysians who feel the same way is comforting and to overcome these hurdles, I have tried to adapt tradition to their new environments,” he added
He also said that a small gathering between friends in Melbourne is an act of trying to recreate a community and it is a fulfilling experience which has helped him overcome being away from home.
“However, if you don’t have friends who celebrate Hari Raya, just celebrate it with the people you love; after all, there is no set way to celebrate Hari Raya; just celebrate it the way you want to celebrate it,” he said.
