Homes Spruced Up, Menu Readied For Happy Raya
Debbie Too

Bandar Seri Begawan - With Hari Raya around the corner, Bruneian Muslims are already making preparations for the month-long festival.

The festival which promotes forgiveness and silaturrahim or kinship relations, it is customary for Muslims in the Sultanate to hold open houses throughout the Syawal month.

This allows them to welcome all - irrespective of creed, culture and position - and join in the celebration.

Many go to great lengths not only to ensure that their homes have a welcoming air but also the abundance of food for the guests.

Most homes in Brunei practice "separate open houses" which means splitting up their open houses over a span of three to four days.

This is meant to ensure that everyone gets to spend time with the hosts and other guests. "I have a large family, an abundance of friends and just as many colleagues, so I split them up into these three groups and invite them on different days, family being the first, of course," said a journalist.

For 22-year old Tuti, she looks forward to attending her grandmother's open house in Lambak. "My parents, aunts and uncles gather at her house to entertain her guests for the first three days. We don't specify who to come on what day but somehow the guests are spread evenly."

Tuti said some 150-200 guests come to her grandmother's house over three days.

She said her parents, uncles and aunts even have discussions on when to do their respective open house so their events do not clash.

"So by third Hari Raya, we know the schedule of Hari Raya open houses in the next one week," she said. She said they usually prepare the local favourites like ketupat (rice cake wrapped in coconut leaves), peanut sauce and rendang (a dry spicy beef dish).

As most of the dishes take time to prepare, many now opt to hire caterers but Tuti said her parents prefer to cook for her guests.

Similarly Jamilah Jaafar also prefers to cook, but she admits it .can be very tiring.

"I usually prepare the ingredients the night before and cook the dishes early the next morning," said the employee of Royal Brunei Airlines.

She said costs have little to do with her preference to serve home-cooked dishes.

"I like that my guests are served authentic spices which are prepared in the traditional way using fresh hand selected meats and vegetables."

Her open house is held on the first three days and she plays host to about 200 guests.

She admitted that she usually spends several thousands of dollars.

For those who opt for catering, prices can go as low as $5 per person.

Home-based catering services offer more competitive prices.

For those who prefer more luxurious services, international-based hotels have also offered: catering services.

The Empire Hotel offers its services for an average $18 per person, including, two serving staff, while Sheraton Utama's' prices start from $14 with additional costs for staff.

Meanwhile, the open house concept is not exclusive to residential homes. Embassies and High Commissions in Brunei are also opening their doors to their citizens on Raya.

The Indonesian Embassy is holding its open house op October 28 while the Pakistan High Commission, on October 29. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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