Ramadhan Break Fasting.......

The festival of Ramadan (Ramadhan, or Bulan Puasa in Malay) is an important event in the Muslim calendar, a time of personal reflection and bonding with one's family.

At the end of the day, Muslims break their fast (buka puasa) with a huge meal called iftar, usually eaten communally at home or at bazaars that are set up specifically for Ramadan.

Ramadan Bazaars in Malaysia

The Muslim majority in Malaysia (Muslim Malays constitute about 60% of the population) eagerly anticipate the Ramadan bazaars that help them break their fast at the end of the day.

The shoppers in the bazaars aren't all Muslim, though; Malaysian Chinese and foreign tourists also benefit from the bazaars' great eats and bargains.

For Ramadan, the Ramadan bazaars all throughout Malaysia operate the entire holy month, opening at 4pm every day. 

KIM SOYA BEAN @ Petaling Street.

The third day of Ramadhan,I'm still in the city of Kuala Lumpur @ China Town or commonly known as Petaling street.It's almost time for break fasting.So what i did was I went to KIM SOYA BEAN and bought (take away) a soya bean drink and tau foo fah then heading to central market for break fasting.

Tun Mahathir like their soya bean.

Kim soya bean is famous with their tau foo fah & soya bean drink.Even our Malaysia former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir love their soya bean(it was shown at one of the newspaper cutting).

Central Market Food Court KL.

 

All the above photos shot from my Panasonic Lumix LX3.

Bertuntung or Lighting Fiesta.

Lighting fiesta or better known as 'Bertuntung' which go on through the Syawal period see villages in Kuching,lighted with decorative lamp and traditional lamps.

Children is the most joyful people during the fiesta .Here you see the children preparing to light the traditional lamps.

This fiesta bertuntung  is held with aim of bringing back nostalgic feeling of how Hari Raya was  celebrated in the past.

The villagers would decorated the kampung(Village) and houses with kerosene lamps  and colourful decoration lamps.

Bertuntung  a traditional widely practised by the Malay Muslim community in Sarawak since the colonial era.

This is how the kerosene lamp look like,,,,Selamat Hari Raya.

The Night of Tujuh Likor...

 

The last 10 nights of Ramadan is said to be the most auspicious nights for the month. It is mentioned in the holy Quran that angels would come down to earth on one of those night, praying together with those who pray late in the nights.

Another practice associated with the last days of Ramadan is that of putting up lights around the house. From the twenty-seventh day of the month up to the Hari Raya (Eid) festival, if you walk through any Malay village you will find the houses lighted up with oil lamps, or coloured electric lamp. The occasion is known as "Malam Tujuh Likur" but it is not of Islamic origin even though the lights are said to welcome the angels who visit earth during this period.

Nevertheless, these displays of lights are very attractive especially in the villages. It also set the mood for the Hari Raya festival which is just a few days away.

Hari Raya Preparation..

All Malaysian Muslim are getting into a final one third stage of the holy month of Ramadan.In less then 10 days,they will celebrate Eidul Fitri or Hari Raya Puasa.

What would Hari Raya be without new clothes, new shoes, new bags and basically lots of new things?

Shoppers throng malls, bazaars and boutiques in search for the trendiest baju kurungs and kebayas (traditional Malay attire for women), latest tudung )(scarf) trends, fashionable shoes, sleekest baju melayu (traditional Malay attire for men) and so forth. There are some who opt for a family colour theme for Hari Raya each year, and will hunt for materials of the same colour. While some can make their own Hari Raya attire or send it to the tailors, others prefer to get it ready-made as it is easier and sometimes cheaper.

 

Spoilt for choices........

It’s not just about the shoes,kopiah or clothes; even Hari Raya delicacies are on sale along with the apparel.

Delicacies etc,etc.......

Children wear etc.etc.........

 

Though it’s the fasting month, many shoppers don’t seem to feel the fatigue or tiredness when hunting for the best deals. While some opt to go shopping at night, after the breaking of fast, many would rather go during the day as there are more shops open and they can get the best bargains.

My advise....spend wisely.

Hari Raya-Everything New........

 

One thing I liked about Hari Raya celebration is I get to see the Muslim liked to decorate their house with new paint, new curtains, new furniture,new decorative lights and not forgetting new cloth & shoes.Some even buy new car...

Hari Raya Bazaar.

Songkok..being display on the motor cycle seat.

 

I see only small crowd gathering here.

 

 

Very few selection of goods to shop here...this year 2010 & this the place they normally set up the temporary makeshift market.

What is the 'Hari Raya Bazaar'
The Hari Raya Bazaar is a temporary makeshift market filled with stalls that has a variety of goods that ranges from the Malay traditional clothing's.carpets,cakes ,songkok ,cakes and goodies etc and are enjoyed by the local community especially from the kampung.Every year they setup the bazaar at Indain Street Mall in old part of Kuching ,India Street.
I was suprise that no Hari Raya Bazaar set up this year and very few people to shop for coming Hari Raya which is fall maybe on this 10th of September or
maybe I should come back here again to see what happen by end of this month when most people get their paycheck .