Ramadan & Hari Raya Puasa

Female students and I enjoying our
beautiful Hari Raya clothes!

Hari Raya Puasa is an important occasion that is celebrated by Muslims all over the world. The festival marks the end of one month of fasting, known as Ramadan.

Ramadan is a one-month fasting periods in which Muslims fast from sun-up to sun-down. This often can be up to a period of 12 hours. Apart from eating and drinking, Muslims are also forbidden from smoking and having intimate relations. In addition, Muslims are expected to avoid lying, breaking promises and cheating during this time. Ultimately, Ramadan is a time of self-control in which Muslims must concentrate on submitting to their holy one, Allah.

My local Bazaar Ramadan in Besut!

During Ramadan, Bazaar Ramadans are seen throughout Islamic communities. In general, a Bazaar Ramadan is a huge open market with many varieties of food, snacks and gifts. Muslims come to these special markets to purchase foods for the large meals they enjoy after the sunset. (Usually after 7:15pm) During the month, Muslims also purchase and collect food for their large Hari Raya celebrations. (Similar to how my family starts purchasing gifts as well as items for our big Christmas dinner weeks before the dinner
itself). The Bazaar Ramadans were definitely an experience. As I was wandered through the long stretches of my local Bazaar Ramadan in Besut, I was often captivated by the many colorful foods, exotic smells and ambitious shoppers who meandered from stall to stall.

Form 4 girls and I enjoying each other's company at
the Hari Raya celebration.

At the conclusion of Ramadan, Muslims break the fast (puasa) with Hari Raya Puasa. To prepare for Hari Raya Puasa, the women start to sew new curtains as well as new baju karungs and baju melayus. In my teachers’ room at school, there were stacks of beautiful fabrics and complementary pins that were ideal for creating a new garment. On the morning of Hari Raya Puasa, Muslims wear their new clothes and go to the mosque to pray. First, they offer thanks to Allah. Then, they ask for forgiveness from their elders.

Asking forgiveness from elders is essential for the young ones. In fact, I received several “Selamat Hari Raya” (Happy Hari Raya) cards from my students that asked for my forgiveness for their mistakes on homework and behavior in class. The cards I did receive were from my most well behaved students too, ironically. For Hari Raya Puasa, homes are filled with wide varieties of spicy dishes. The Muslim children also receive money.

A Form 2 student offering some of
her homemade cupcakes for Hari Raya!

During Ramadan, there was still school and regular scheduled classes. It was no surprise to me that my students were very lethargic during the beginning of their fasting month. However, it amazed me how well they functioned by the end of Ramadan. Fasting and not drinking any sort of liquid, including water, in a tropical climate is no easy task. I attempted fasting for the first two days of Ramadan, just to see what my students would be experiencing. On day three, I chose to simply not eat or drink while at school during Ramadan, but after school I would be found gorging on food and drinking my weight in water in our home kitchen.

After my school’s week break for Hari Raya, there was a feast to be found in different areas of the school everyday. The different offices at the school hosted potlucks and teachers would go there to enjoy delicious foods on their breaks. Moreover, my school even hosted a school wide Hari Raya celebration. I was instructed to ‘look beautiful’ and wear my best baju karung. When I arrived at school that day, I saw that everyone definitely looked their best. The students did not even have to wear their uniforms! It was a day filled with music, beautiful clothing and food… lots of food!

The school wide Hari Raya celebration!
There was a large variety of foods.

The school wide Hari Raya celebration! About 900 plus
people gathered in the gymnasium and enjoyed a big meal!

My Form 4 students posing for a thumbs up!

A fellow teacher and I!

Some fun Form 4 students sporting their best attire!

A stand-out student of mine, Syatirah, and I! She was one
of the most outgoing sixteen year olds I have ever met!

My fellow teacher and I at the Hari Raya celebration!

KHAS students and I having fun at the celebration!

Teachers and I enjoying food at the school's
Hari Raya celebration. Everyone wore their best garments!

I was allowed to sit in the men's circle for a photo opportunity.

Students performed songs and poems, in Malay, on stage!

Form 4 students and I hiding in the shade
with smiles on our faces!

Ikan bakar (roasted chicken) at the local Bazaar Ramadan!

Roti tempayan (flat, flaky bread) at the local bazaar!

Pandan cake. It was a moist, soft cake special for Hari Raya.
The green color comes from the infamous Pandan leaf in Malaysia.

The melon stall, home to very fresh watermelon! Sedap (delicious!)

My fellow American friends and I enjoying food from the Bazaar Ramadan in Besut!
We became somewhat comfortable eating on my yoga mat and our home's huge carpet!
They came to Besut just to see our bazaar, as it was known as the best one in northern Terengganu!

Ramadhan is Upon Us

Ever since my arrival in Besut, Malaysia in January, the Malay people in my community have enthusiastically told me about the highly anticipated Ramadhan. I had heard of Ramadhan before, but never did I think I would have the unique opportunity to live within a community that honors and recognizes this custom.

Ramadhan began on July 21^st, and during Ramadhan, Muslims all over the world fast daily from sunrise to sunset. They call their fasting, “puasa,” and they fast to remind themselves that others are not as fortunate as they are. This is a time of deep prayer, charity and reflection for the Muslim community.

Ramadhan concludes after one lunar month, with the sighting of a new moon. At that time, Muslims then celebrate Hari Raya Puasa. Hari Raya Puasa is a festival that can take place for seven or more days, and it is a time of joy and celebration after one month of fasting during Ramadhan. Family and friends visit each other and every family usually hosts an open house to invite friends and relatives to join in celebration.

As many people in my American hometown anxiously prepare for Christmas during the Holiday Season, similar anticipation can be experienced and witnessed as Muslims are busy buying new beautiful Hari Raya clothes, ordering special desserts, preparing elaborate meals and doing all they can to prepare for Hari Raya. In fact, during Hari Raya stores nationwide host huge sales and promotions. Even the Starbucks in Kuala Lumpur run a “Buy 1, Get 1 on Us this Ramadhan” promotion, and include Hari Raya in their advertisements stating, “Wishing you a safe journey this Hari Raya!” The cities and larger towns of Malaysia are filled with traffic and heavy shopping crowds.

This is "Ayam Satay," which translate as chicken satay. It
is delicious, seasoned chicken on a skewer that is grilled.
It is my favorite Malay food, and it is especially popular
for Hari Raya!

Meanwhile, as I wait in anticipation to witness my first Hari Raya, I can definitely sense the presence of Ramadhan currently underway. All the restaurants that were once busy from morning to night, as well as the school cafeteria are closed to honor the daily fasting. In addition, my students are no longer sipping their juices and actively eating their snacks during recess. Instead, they are napping. Moreover, the fields that once were filled after school with boys playing soccer are now home to wild dogs and cows grazing, as children are tired and resting after school.

Much work to be done at the Bazaar Ramadhan!

However, while the town may seem sleepy, everyone can be found at the local Bazaar Ramadhan buying food and ingredients for the large, special family dinners they enjoy every night after the sun sets during Ramadhan. In fact, my female students and female teachers prepare huge feasts for their families everyday after school, and often they try new, special Ramadhan recipes during this time. When the sun sets, usually around 7:30pm, the town is absolutely empty as families are at home “buka puasa,” which means “breaking fast.”

Bazaar Ramadhans are very busy with people buying foods
and ingredients for their "buka puasa" meals! 

Personally, it has been an interesting experience to be in the heart of an Islamic community during Ramadhan, and it is an experience I could never have elsewhere. In Besut, Ramadhan may seem like a calm, reflective time of sacrifice, but when Hari Raya arrives next weekend, the town will ignite and explode with people, celebration and of course, food!