KUCHING: ‘Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri’ to all Muslim friends. Raya is here once again.
Unfortunately, many Muslims who are overseas cannot be home for the festival this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic which has closed many borders.
This is their second Hari Raya away from home.
Here are some Hari Raya greetings from Sarawakians overseas who are also sharing their ways of celebrating the festival.
Khalisa Sulaiman (digital illustrator, Austria)
‘Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri’ to all, especially my siblings Balkis, Asz, Firdaus, and Zaki! in Miri, Kuala Lumpur and Kuching. I send my Raya greetings to my grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins in Miri and Kuching too. I hope all of you are safe and healthy, and hopefully, next year, we can celebrate Hari Raya together. I am still keeping the Raya spirit — like baking biscuits and kek lapis and providing ‘duit Raya’ for the kids — alive.
Today, we will have curry, rendang, and satay with a few friends.
Nadia Najihah Tipol (electrical engineering student, Germany)
I would like to wish all Muslims, especially my family and friends in Kuching ‘Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri’ and seek forgiveness from them all. Lots of love from Germany! Today, I will be virtually celebrating Raya with my family and friends who are in Kuching. I will also be cooking rendang and chicken curry with friends at my place.
Emeer Hassan (medical student, India)
‘Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri’. I seek forgiveness from all friends and family members in Sarawak. I hope everyone is safe and doing their part to fight the pandemic. I hope everyone will go for the vaccination when vaccines are available. The sooner we achieve herd immunity, the sooner things return to normal. Then, we are able to celebrate properly all the festivals next year.
Johan Arief Jaafar (Malaysian diplomat, Philippines)
I would like to wish my parents, family, friends and my loved ones in Malaysia ’Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri’ and seek forgiveness from them all. Hope everyone will enjoy this year’s festival season and stay safe. Warm wishes from Zamboanga City, Philippines. I will spend Raya this year with the International Mindanao Team members (IMT-16). We’re glad we brought Brahim with us; our morning Raya dish will surely make us feel at home.
Nazeerah Mohamad Razali (medical student, Egypt)
Salam Aidilfitri, and I seek forgiveness from my family members that I miss dearly, especially my parents, and siblings (Faeez and Izah). Raya greetings to my friends who are in Malaysia, teachers and lecturers in Unimas, SM Sains Utara Kuching, SMK Green Road, and SK Merpati Jepang! Greetings from Egypt! As we are still in a pandemic state, no big Raya gatherings and celebrations are allowed; these are usually hosted by the Malaysian Embassy in Egypt and Mara Egypt. Nevertheless, we will still celebrate Raya with our close friends.
Dayangku Afina (student, Australia)
To my family and friends in Sarawak, ‘Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri’! Although this will be another year, we are celebrating Raya separately, staying connected to my family and friends virtually, has made it a meaningful celebration. Stay vigilant and safe during this unprecedented pandemic. This is the second Raya that I cannot celebrate with my family and my close friends in Malaysia. I hope that next year, I will be able to come home and eat laksa as well as the usual Raya food!
Emelia Florian (student, United Kingdom)
Wishing everyone celebrating ‘Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri’! Though the current conditions for all festivities are not ideal, it’s always reassuring to know our loved ones are just a phone call away. What I miss about being back home for Hari Raya is having that warm and inviting feeling when you visit someone’s home and really catching up with them. Being served top quality rendang and lemang is always a bonus.
Jasmine Nanta (technologist student, United Kingdom)
I want to take this opportunity to wish all my friends and family ‘Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri’. May the bonds between friends and family become closer although we are apart during this celebration. What I miss most about Hari Raya in Kuching is being able to visit all the friends I grew up with in school! Not to mention all the best home-cooked food and kuih laid out for everyone to enjoy while catching up.
