The Significance of Hari Raya Food towards Malay Community in Malaysia
Abstract
It is becoming a long tradition regardless generations for the Malay community to prepare and served traditional foods for Hari
Raya celebration. Through observation and interview procedures, this paper describes the significance of traditional Hari Raya
food from three Malay generation women’s understanding on the process of Malay traditional Hari Raya food knowledge
transfer. Charitable deeds, Social Bonding and Memories are significant elements in the knowledge transfer processes.
Majorities of informers noted that Hari Raya without the traditional food is nothing or did not bring any significant for the
celebration. In other words Hari Raya foods play significant roles in cheering or complete the atmosphere of the festive
celebration.
1. Introduction
Hari Raya is a religious celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting which is
celebrated in the first day of Shawwal by Muslims across the world including the Malay community in Malaysia.
This is a day where Muslim around the world shows a common goal of unity and blessing. In this greatness or blessing day, Muslims besides performing tasbeeh, tahmeed and takbeer (perform religious chanting), performing
morning Hari Raya prayer, they are also strongly urged to perform many other meaningful activities like asking
parents and family forgiveness, visit the family grave yard, pay visit to family relatives and friends as well as
entertain guests with Hari Raya foods and drinks. Foods in addition, to other activities plays significant role in the
Hari Raya celebrations and convey valuable meanings in strengthening the relationships among families, friends and
communities. Hari Raya food referred as food prepared and served particularly during the Malay culture and
Muslim religious celebrations or globally known as Aid Fitri or Aid Adha. The Malays commonly celebrate this
annual feast with varieties of foods and special dishes particularly the traditional one. It is becoming a long tradition
regardless generations for the Malay community to prepare and served traditional Hari Raya food for the
celebration. Traditional Hari Raya food is in fact to have brought significant meaning to the Malays women
generations in celebrating the religious festive celebration. Therefore, this paper describes the significance of
traditional Hari Raya food based on understanding of the process of Malay traditional Hari Raya food knowledge
transfer within the three generations Malay women or mothers.