Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Eid Mubarak- My version

Now Playing: Billie Jean- Late Michael Jackson
Emoticon:  :/
Favourite word right now:deipnosophist (a skilled person at informal chit chat, why does this sound familiar? Maybe because that’s so me.  LOL)
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I could not not blog about my Eid Mubarak, more commonly known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri in my mother tongue and country. The month of celebration. How could I not blog about such a glorious event that I honestly look forward to each year?

We should start with the eve of the 1st of Syawal (month of celebration, end of the fasting period). Maybe we could also dwell a little on the fasting month, but just a little, I have tons to blog about and I don’t want all of you guys dozing( Zzzzz)halfway through the entry.

Fasting month. It’s the month where 30 days goes by with Muslims fasting from the break of dawn till sunset. We aren’t only excluding meals from our daily routines, we must also say no evil, see no evil and hear no evil. Oh! We musnt also insert anything, anything at all, into our body. Say... like no finger into your nose, no digging ear wax and ermm... other things that involve putting things into your body.... Err... if you get what I’m hinting. Lol. –wink wink-

After 30 days of fasting, the month of celebration rolls by and we, of course, celebrate. On the eve of Eid Mubarak, my family and I as usual, sleep over at my grandparents house. Nothing big. But I’ve always like the sound of Takbir Raya (sorry, no translation available! :P) To me, it’s one of the most peaceful sounds. It’s a... well, not really a chant, but... I JUST CANT DESCRIBE IT, BEATS ME WHAT YOU CALL IT. Lol. Sorry... can’t explain it... you just gotta go through it yourself.

On the morning of Eid Mubarak, we go to the annual Sembahyang Raya or Eid Mubarak prayer. It’s... well awesome, but I don’t particularly like the fact that every time, every single time I go for this prayer... someone will step on my leg during the prayer. HOW IN THE WORLD ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO PRAY TO GOD IF SOMEONE IS STOPING YOUR BLOOD CIRCULATION? XD x]

So, I just stayed around and help prepare the raw cooking materials my aunty will need later, to cook. I sliced the onions (crying as though I lost a diamond, Of Course! What else is to be expected? ) and some weird pickled lime to make dalca. Don’t ask me what in the world is dalca, I don’t eat it myself.
We of course slice open the lemangs (glutinous  rice cooked with coconut milk in a bamboo) and ate it with my mom’s rendang. Oh such taste is incredible. Yum Yum. And because some of my uncles and aunties haven’t arrive, we went to visit other families.

We went to this politician’s open house. The monkey girl at the entrance didn’t give me any duit raya. Duit raya is money given to children and unmarried or youngsters by the elders. Not a must but a tradition. That girl didn’t even glance at me. Gawd... it’s just a coupla notes. Not like she has to give me a million bucks.  Let’s move on.

Then we went to visit my auntie’s friend. From there, we sent my uncle for Friday prayer and went to visit a relative of our relative. That lady has travelled to all of Europe. God, I’m so freaking envious of her. She has even visited Luxembourg. I have always wanted to visit Luxembourg, a beautiful small country. –sighs- She is so awesome... she told me all kind of stories bout the south of France and paella, the famous Spanish delight. Ahh... such tales of her travels should be recorded and compiled into a book.

Then we went home. I ate my auntie’s Briyani rice. Which is rice cooked with Arabic spices. That night, we played fire crackers. Awesome. Annually, we have a sort of match with the neighbouring village. They will fire something loud and we will set off one of our fire crackers. It’s like... trying to say ‘yo, you’re not the only one with big, noisy fire crackers’. Boys and toys, how can you ever restrict them? J

There was this particularly loud firecracker my uncle bought. Ringgit Malaysia 10 (approx USD$3) for each. It went off ‘BOOM’ and then explode into a huge flower of multi, brilliant colours. The neighbouring village must have been deafen by that. Lol.

The second day of Eid kicked off with the last uncle we expected to come, and we all gathered in front of my grandparents’ porch and asking from forgiveness from every uncle, auntie, relatives, cousins. Lots of duit raya this year. Much more than last year. Twice as much as last year.

I will not say how much actually. Just enough to buy myself that new novel I’ve been eyeing, a new pair of earphones(hopefully soundproofed) and save some for some upcoming occasion. Lol. Perhaps I can even squeeze in a guitar capo. I wont be able to afford a guitar tuner though. Maybe that can be my birthday prezzie.

Hey, my birthday is coming, peeps! –thinks- If you guys are ever scratching your head in what to give me (wishful thinking on positivity always help ;]) you guys can always just sent a money transfer. –wink wink- Lol. Keep the dream alive, eh? But I think I will ask for a guitar tuner and capo for my birthday. Now, don’t I wish someone would get me an electric guitar for my birthday? Haha. It’s a private joke. Sorry if you’re not in the loop. Mail me about your Eid Mubarak experience if you want at blurwonderwoman@gmail.com. Hearts and kisses.

All yours smiling like a Cheshire Cat,
Alia.




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