By Melati Mohd Ariff
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- "If Hari Raya falls on Friday, I would go
back on Thursday night." "How long will you be on leave?" "Where are you
going back for Hari Raya this year?"
The conversation themes in offices seemed to have steered from the
usual "what shall we have for 'berbuka' (breaking of fast) today?" to
the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations.
BALIK KAMPUNG FUN
Nothing captures the joy and anticipation one feels about going to
"balik kampung" more than the song "Balik Kampung" by popular Malaysian
singer and songwriter, the late Datuk Sudirman Haji Arshad.
The song's upbeat tempo and joyous melody has always evoked the balik kampung excitement among listeners.
Those who are determined go back to their hometowns during Hari Raya
have usually planned ahead. They would apply for their leave before the
start of Ramadan and even save up for the trip beforehand.
Balik kampung has become a tradition so closely associated with festive
celebrations in the country, as it is the one time during a year that
family members from wherever they are in the country get together and
celebrate with their loved ones.
Tears and loneliness would usually accompany those who cannot make it
back, particularly when they hear the "takbir raya" or songs like "Suara
Takbir" and "Dendang Perantau" by legendary singer P. Ramlee.
FOR THE PARENTS
The writer posed a question to her Facebook friends on the necessity of balik kampung for Hari Raya.
The answers she received were unanimous: it was a must.
Many cited the main reason as to ensure that their aging parents are with their loved ones during the festive holidays.
Ustaz Nur Syamsul Abd Roni, the Islamic Affairs Assistant at Masjid
Negara told Bernama said Muslims should view their parents as their most
important assets in the world.
He said that it was compulsory to seek their forgiveness on the morning of Hari Raya.
"If we have lived apart from our parents, this is the time to go back and see them.
"Those whose parents have passed on will long to do so, particularly on Hari Raya morning," he said.
To those who claim that the implementation of GST and rising cost of
living have prevented them from doing so, he said that it was the
parents' blessings and prayers that brings in "rezeki" (sustenance) for
the children.
"Sustenance comes from God, so do go back home. Your parents are
awaiting their children's and grandchildren's return," said Nur Syamsul.
PLAN AHEAD
Those with families may find that more planning is needed for balik kampung, compared with their single counterparts.
Couples who hail from different parts of the country may need to work
out a compromise so that a joyous occasion such as balik kampung does
not turn into a family feud.
"Things are different after marriage. When I was single, it was
simpler. I would just get on the ETS (electric train service) to balik
kampung, and that only takes a little over an hour," said a civil
servant who only wanted to be known as Nana, who hailed from Ipoh,
Perak.
As Nana's husband is from the southern state of Johor, the couple takes turns to celebrate Hari Raya in each other's hometowns.
"Last year we spent Hari Raya at my in-law's in Johor Baharu, and I was
only able to see my parents in Ipoh on the third day of Hari Raya.
"The traffic going back to Johor Baharu is not as bad as Ipoh. We made a
point to really plan out our journey so as not to get stuck on the
congested roads," said Nana.
She considers the eve of Hari Raya to be the most nostalgic part of the celebration.
"My mother and grandmother would pull out all stops, cooking a variety
of dishes. The must-have dishes are the "ketupat palas", "lemang" and
"rendang tok"," she said.
A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
For Akmar Farwiz, celebrating Hari Raya in his hometown is a must despite both his parents having passed away.
It was the many joyous memories of Hari Raya of the yesteryears that
drew the 30-something back to his hometown in Pasir Mas, Kelantan.
His mother died of stroke in 1995. At the time, he was sitting for a
preparatory course in UTM Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur. His father,
meanwhile, died in March this year.
"Hari Raya is just so much more merrier with family. Although my
parents are no longer around, I still go back because they were buried
there.
"Furthermore, I still have my stepmother to take care of and the family
of my late eldest brother," said Akmar, the youngest of four siblings.
"My parents were both teachers. It was always so festive and merry when
their students visited, along with their parents," he recalled his
fondest memories.
For Hari Raya, his mother would cook dishes like "lontong" and yellow
coconut gravy with foo chok (bean curd skin), tofu, tempeh and long
beans.
"My father is from Melaka. Ours was probably be the only house in
Kelantan that prepared lontong for Hari Raya," he recalled fondly.
MERRIER
"It is merrier for Hari Raya to be celebrated back in the kampung as
that is where our parents, extended family and neighbours are.
"Hari Raya is a great time to reconnect with them and strengthen the
family bond," said 53-year-old LH Teh from Kubang Pasu, Kedah.
Although Teh is Chinese, the celebration is close to his heart as he grew up amidst a Malay community.
Teh would also join the balik kampung exodus during the Hari Raya
holidays as the festivities reminded him of his happy childhood.
"Balik kampung is a time for us to relax and take a load off the pressures of life, work or business.
"Research shows that those who live in the city tend to work so hard
for a living that they become more susceptible to hypertension, high
cholesterol and high blood sugar," he said.
According to Teh, the Chinese saw the chance to balik kampung as a
gratifying time for those who did well in their career or business.
"Balik kampung can be a time to present our "progress report" to our parents and other family members.
"The success does not have to be something huge or groundbreaking. It
is enough that we tell them we are making enough money for our families
to live comfortably."
-- BERNAMA
Bernama online
Wednesday 15 July 2015
