Hari Raya aidilfitri

As we talked about Ramadan last week, we are going to explore what happens next during this week's blog, which is, Hari Raya Puasa.

Hari Raya Puasa, which falls on October 1st each year on the Islamic calendar, is a major Islamic festival. It is a paraphrase of "eid al-fitr" in Arabic and is one of the three major Islamic festivals.

Under Islam principles, Muslims bathe and dress for Hari Raya Puasa, gathering at a nearby mosque to worship, hear a sermon from a cleric and mourn their ancestors. Families prepare dried apricots, almonds, fragrant oils, Fried fruits, melon, fruit, tea, and sugar to entertain guests, while young people gather to sing and dance.

Therefore, we'll introduce the 10 top Hari Raya Puasa foods to you as you might not know their tastes or even their names yet!

Are you ready? Let's go!

1. Serunding
It's the holy grail of Malaysian food fashion. A finger for food or simple innocent indulgence. What we do know is that once you start, it's hard to stop these delicious delights.

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2. Satay
Spread a layer of peanut butter on top, or place some Ketut or rice dumpling next to it, to reduce the unpleasant sweetness. These meat sticks are a meal in themselves!

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​3. Rendang
Whether it is chicken, beef or mutton, as long as it is slow-stewed meat in a kind of gravy that looks like curry, everyone went in.

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4. Asam pedas
It's not just a spicy fish stew, it's also unique in its acidity and flavor. The exact origin of the dish is unclear, but Assam pitas is a decidedly homemade dish that attracts people at every Raya dinner.

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5. Lontong
Rice cakes are served with nenek's signature ingredients in coconut gravy, and if that doesn't fill the void of traditional Raya, I don't know what else.

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6. Lemang
A common delicacy celebrated by most people but usually eaten towards the end of the Muslim fast. Lemang is similar to katupat or nasi impit, adding a flavor from coconut milk.

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​7. Bubur Lambuk
Bubur Lambuk's humble origins have earned it a place at many people's table. It evolved from a Muslim tradition of serving food to the poor during Ramadan into a versatile dish. 

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8. Dodol
This delicious goo is often shaped like a dumpling. Its strategic size is to avoid overindulging these diabetes-inducing goodies. It has the texture of a Chinese New Year cake, but with every bite, you get a taste of sweet wine. This seemingly innocuous triangle also includes durian, acid-sorp, jackfruit and just about anything you can think of.

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9. Kuih muih
When it comes to diversity and non-discrimination, the "kuih muih" of Malay cuisine is a perfect definition of this, but in the form of aesthetically comforting food. Each Quaker bite was as pleasant as the next. Sweet, delicious, small, that's why you exercise Raya.

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10. Otak- otak
The genius who came up with the idea of wrapping spiced minced fish in banana leaves will definitely deserve the prestigious cooking award. The charred surface of the leaves gives the charred taste of the fish, but never replaces the springy and crunchy texture. Hence, how can you Raya without this dish?



Hari Raya Puasa is a precious day for Muslims. During the festival, every Muslim has the opportunity to participate in prayer and worship activities to improve his character and morality and to expect more grace and harvest from Allah.

Hari Raya Puasa is also a time for Muslim's self-reflection, self-renewal, and mercy. It should be more about the elderly, friends and family, the widowed and the poor, who might otherwise be forgotten. Muslims who pray for the bounty of Allah should first of all praise the grace that Allah has bestowed on people and give those in need of spiritual or material help what they can according to their own conditions. Through a successful religious festival, individuals, families, and society should be spiritually lifted.
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​Written by Zou Yi Lin

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