A Story To Share: Our Big Hari Raya (AidilFitr) Organisation Do

As the saying goes, you fast for a month (Ramadhan), you'll need to celebrate hari raya (Eid) over an equivalent period (Syawal). This Syawal open house is very much a Malaysian culture. Believe me, but some would even have their open house do way past Syawal.

Over the years, our office Eid celebration has evolved into a big do. I remember we started with polystyrene packed food in the early 90s, to cart laid out with several food picks in the parking lot, to simple tents with the majority of the crowd crowding under the tree sheds of the parking area (the sun was merciless and the asphalt parking lot offers no respite), to elaborate Arabian tents with equally elaborate food spread. Wish I've kept photos of all those events. You never know when you are part of history until it is all over (and years later).

Later we have the advantage of the fully air-conditioned MAEPS (Malaysia Agriculture Exposition Park Serdang) at our disposal. First MAEPS only offered us the not-so-fantastic Level 1 of Hall D. The many pillars were too much of an distraction. For the past three celebrations we were offered the fully carpeted Level 2 and a live band to go with! We have moved on, and with it the escalating cost.

But anything good has its lifespan. The recession hits everybody but being the only get-together that has been cultured as a must, it has to go on albeit on a much smaller scale. Being pampered over the years, I wondered should anything less be acceptable. It was really a struggle for us, the organising committee, to manage such a big event on such a limited budget. Nothing was coming from the organisation and it's a 'crime' to be seeking external sponsorship for something construed very much an internal matter. Should we go for the asking, there would be willing sponsors, more than we could possibly manage. But as said, that option is no option at all. Further, taking that option would draw too much attention where you least want it, and the flacks too.

We had our first organising committee meeting during the fasting month itself. The prospect was gloomy. However, we had what we won for the IDB S&T award and a per head sum was promised. That is some relief. Then our Cooperative Society pledged us 5K (Thank you Mr. YDP, Sir). Our subsidiary company promised to take care of the mutton grilling cost. The Dorper sheep come from our very own farm. We enticed MAEPS management to write-off the venue cost, which they agreed (Thank you, Dato'). Alhamdullillah, we are back in business.

The celebration proper was today, 22 Sept 2011. Due to our present constrains I took to reminding the staff via e-mail to please have their fill but just take (the amount) what they need and to refrain from wasteful food piling. Hope the message would not be taken out of context.

We did cut back on a few items (which we considered as extras) and the amount compared to last year's. But things that make what Raya is were not compromised. The ketupat, lemang and rendang; the roti jala and chicken curry; the laksa Johor; the satay and peanut sauce; Bukhari rice with chicken in red sauce; and of course our iconic grilled mutton were retained. Apart from the normal kuih raya; we have our minimally processed fruits, fermented rice (tapai) using our very own yeast culture, and jelly coconut for dessert. The teh tarik (bubbled tea) top it all. The more adventurous ones would go for ginger flavoured teh tarik. A new addition replacing our ABC (shredded ice concoction) is the cendol. The cendol is the KP's pick. I've never tasted cendol that good Datuk!!!

The merriment was accompanied by our very own live band, though nothing official. They are just a few guys who loved jamming and were given the opportunity to go public. They have a few aspiring singers accompanying. Had only they knew that the band offered to us my MAEPS would make us poorer by 10K! Thank you guys. We love the spirit.

I'll let the pictures tell the full story once I have them from our cameramen. I was too busy entertaining the guests to be clicking away myself. Furthermore, it's better to have 'professionals' attending to that job.

The photo shots are finally here......
Many thanks to Khairol Azhar for them all.