I like Hari Raya songs. They make me happy. With just one more day to go before the dawn of Shawwal and the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, shopping malls are abuzz with activities while festive songs permeate the air and the airwaves. Very nice.

I have so many favorite Aidilfitri tunes. Top of the list is Seloka Hari Raya or Hari Raya Poetry. Melodious and delivered faultlessly by Hail Amir and Uji Rashid, the song, happily and nostalgically, transports me to my youth. This is my go-to Hari Raya song. Admittedly, I have no ear for music. Don’t know much about musical instruments and don’t play any. Certainly can’t sing to save my life. But this I know for sure. Hail Amir and Uji Rashid, with their soothing voices, make Seloka Hari Raya a timeless classic. And, the lyrics are both meaningful and relevant today as when it was first released in 1977. The song is about, amongst others, visiting mum for Hari Raya, respecting our elders, and forgiving and forgetting past feuds. Anytime good advice.

My other favourite is Balik Kampung or Back to my hometown. Popularly known as the singing lawyer, the late Sudirman Hj Arshad’s catchy and peppy Raya song is a super hit with many, including my husband. Very relatable, Balik Kampung’s lyrics exemplify how people feel – enthused and not bothered about the long journey home just to be with family and loved ones.

And, this is what we Malaysians generally do when there are festivals and long weekends. Most people, living and working in KL, are from outside the city and Selangor. Like me, I am originally from Alor Setar, Kedah. And, I was born in Kangar, Perlis. I used to balik kampung to visit my parents in Alor Setar. But as my mum now lives in the same condominium as I do, there is less incentive to return. That said, my husband and I, still do drive holidays to the north, stopping for a night or two, in my hometown to see how Alor Setar has changed. Also, to visit the houses I grew up in, schools I went to and places I hung out at (too few to mention). 

I also like ketupat pulut or glutinous rice dumplings, an iconic traditional food that is a must-have at Hari Raya Aidilfitri. I am not exactly sure why ketupat featured in our home every Hari Raya.  It just did. My mum made ketupat not only for Hari Raya but whenever she could get her hands on fan palm leaves, which were not easy to come by.  She was very adept at weaving and folding the fan palm leaves into triangles that held the glutinous rice in place.

My mum’s ketupat recipe comprised glutinous rice, black-eyed beans, salt, coconut cream and cononut milk.  She semi-cooked the ingredients first, and once cooled, placed them in triangular fan palm leaf bundles to be steamed. The whole process was quite laborious as there were many steps involved and the weaving and folding required practice.  I remember enjoying the yummy goodness of the milky glutinous rice parcels as is and/or with white sugar. Yes, white sugar. The ketupats we had were never paired with chicken rendang (a meat dish cooked in coconut milk and spices), or curry or serunding (meat floss) – which is how this dish is usually served.  They were more like a not-so-sweet dessert. It’s been a long while since I had my mum’s ketupats.

I also like Hari Raya cookies. To be honest I like cookies of any kind. My favourite is Biskut Makmur or ghee biscuits with peanut filling. Round or oblong in shape, the cookies are dusted with flour and castor sugar. They are flavourful and soft, and every bite is a delight. I actually ate all 24 cookies in a container, in one sitting, a few Hari Rayas ago. Yum.

I like all festivals. As I always say, what’s not to like. Happy songs, happy people, lots of great food, family get-togethers, colourful decorations and long holidays.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.