Task 1: How Eid Mubarak is celebrated in your village?

Every year, Muslims will celebrate Eid Mubarak which falls in the month of Syawal. It is the day of victory for the Muslims after have gone through the obstacles and challenges of fasting during Ramadhan. My family and I celebrated Eid Mubarak in two different hometown as my Dad is from Mukah, Sarawak and my Mom is from Miri, Sarawak. Usually, we will always celebrated Eid on both sides since the distance between Mukah and Miri is close. Celebrating Eid Mubarak together with our family members and relatives in hometown is more joyful.

Days before, usually everyone is busy with Eid Mubarak preparation. The female folks make varieties of food and drinks. Even my mother and aunties baked many type of ‘kek lapis Sarawak’ as it is very popular among the elderly in Sarawak. Other female relatives also help to cook 'rendang' curries and prepare 'ketupat' for the first day of Eid Mubarak. But usually Grandma’s recipe will always be family’s favourite all the time. As all of the relatives celebrated Eid at Grandparent’s house, the house are decorated with many coloured lights and the curtains and cushion are change with the new one. In short, preparation is important for any event that we celebrated as it can strengthen our family bond.

On Eid Mubarak Day, all muslims will go to the mosque to pray in the morning. All of us woke early on the first day of Eid Mubarak. After finished bathing and performing the dawn prayer together, we get ready to wear the new 'baju kurung' and ' baju melayu' that we recently bought before returning to our hometown for Eid Mubarak. Then, after returning home from the mosque, each of my family members would apologize to each other either older or younger. Eid Mubarak is interesting event because all the mistakes and hatred are been forgiven and forgetten. Not only that, one thing that my cousin and I like about Eid Mubarak is we will receive Eid Mubarak money from our grandparents and relatives. We also receive guests and relatives to come visit our Grandparent's house. Besides, it is cultural for Malaysians to visit their Muslim friends to share their joy of Eid Mubarak. Therefore, Eid Mubarak can be celebrated by all Malaysia citizen as it is one way to maintain the unity of society. 

However, Eid Mubarak is not only about the joyful of the first day. The rest of the day will be filled by visiting other nearby houses in the neighbourhood. As we visit a lot of houses, we receive a lot of Eid Mubarak money from the host. Visiting our late great grandparent’s grave and other relatives who had leave us at the cemetery of the village is a must on the Eid Mubarak days. It is very exciting as among us will compete to see which one of us will receives the most Eid Mubarak money during the visits. At the eve of Eid Mubarak, we usually play with firecrackers as it is the common activity that children will do. The night is filled with the sounds of exploding fireworks. People celebrated Eid Mubarak with joyful emotion because it is the way muslims show their gratitude to god after gone through obstacles during the fasting month. 

After stay for one week in our hometown, we usually return back for works and studies as well as the other members of the family. Lastly, Eid Mubarak is a continuous celebration for the whole Syawal month and it is not just celebrated on the first day. Basically, Eid Mubarak is not about the various types of food served and getting Eid Mubarak money from people, this celebration will strengthen our relationships with each other especially among family members.

References:

• islam.about.com/od/ramadan/f/eid_fitr.htm
• http://www.al-islam.org/fast-sayyid-saeed-akhtar-rizvi/eid-ul-fitr-unique-festival-time-joy-muslims

By: Azreen Zahirah Bt. Ja'afar