Grandeur And High Spirit Mark Hari Raya
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Muslims in Brunei Darussalam marked the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan on Tuesday with the traditional celebrations filled with anxiety over unresolved health and environmental issues caused by haze.

They began their celebration of Hari-Raya Aidilfitri with early morning prayers at mosques, visited the graves of their loved ones, hosted open house and visited the houses of their relatives and friends.

This Hari Raya Aidilfitri is being celebrated amidst good prospect for the national economic future but with the region facing environmental turmoil in the form of haze.

There is a feeling that Hari Raya this year has been celebrated with much grandeur and high spirit, which only demonstrated that people now had extra reach in their purchasing power.

Civil servants have received accelerated monthly pay while the old-age pensioners and people with disability have also been given an increasee in monthly allowance.

The Hari Raya celebration is not only aimed at strengthening ties among families or within the Muslim community but is used by Muslims and non-Muslims to reinforce unity in a multi-racial society. Non-Muslims use the occasion to visit their Muslim friends as demonstration of solidarity.

Muslims of other races such as Indians, Sri Lankan and Pakistanis also visit their Malay friends.

There are also cases of those who are unable to mark the occasion with their families due to work commitment such as security personnel and people who work in the fire and health services.

However, as in other years, Hari Raya is a time for the people to unite as a family through exchanges of visits. Because of mixed marriages, their relatives of other faiths also join in to celebrate the occasion to promote goodwill.

Children look forward for Hari Raya festivity as they are usually handed out green packets containing money. They collect the packets to buy their individual needs such as schoolbooks, toys or computer games.

Muslims here said the Hari Raya occasion can be used to exemplify to the world that Islam is not a religion that supports terrorism but one that stands for peace and promotes friendship among humankind.

"Our unique tradition of holding open house during Hari Raya is actually a celebration of the triumph of our multiracial existence," they said.

They said all Bruneians of all races should unite and cooperate to enable them to face challenges in globalisation, trade liberalisation and information technology revolution.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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