A Story To Share: AidilFitr; Syawal 1, 1432

AidilFitr is here again (Syawal 1, 1432H; August 30, 2011), much to the rejoice of the Muslim world to celebrate the end of the Ramadhan, the fasting month. Yet some are saddened by the exit of Ramadhan. "Ramadhan, the month of my Ummah", to quote the holy Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. This year's auspiciousness of AidilFitr is further enhanced by it's double celebration with Merdeka Day (Malaya's Independence Day) normally celebrated on August 31. They say this double celebration comes once in 30 years. Wonder where I was some 30 years ago that I can't really recall such a celebration! Merdeka for this year will instead be celebrated on September 16, commemorating the formation of Malaysia.

Unlike most Malaysians, we again made no balik kampung plans for the celebration. It has been this way since Ma passed away. Going home without her around had not been the same. The second reason being my eldest is heavy with her child. She's due early October. The journey would be too strenuous for her. Thirdly, we have to admit that we are much too old to tackle the traffic. Normally it'll be a 9 hour drive to reach our hometown. Come Raya time, I've heard friends making it in 13 or even 16 hours! That's way too long for us. To add to that we'll be encountering all sorts of drivers along the way, mostly young ones with new cars sprinting their way. We'll just make way for them.

Some years ago we managed the journey home. Laid out plans to visit out of town relatives on the second day of the celebration but the hellish traffic refused to leave us. The roads were jam-packed and the journey led us nowhere but to more frustration. So now we choose the peace of our own home preferring other more favorable time to balik kampung.

Wishing all Muslims a joyous Hari Raya AidilFitr and a resounding "Merdeka!!!" to all Malaysians.