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All Roads Leading To Raya
By Arnie PDH Ishak

Bandar Seri Begawan - With Hari Raya just around the corner, the early evening and weekend traffic jams compound the excitement everywhere as shoppers clamour to department stores and shopping complexes around the country.

As early as 7pm, cars bumper-to-bumper can be seen jamming the meets leading to the shopping areas of Gadong, Kiulap, Batu Satu, Serusop and other arcades.

With the Brunei Grand Sale still in MI swing, shoppers are taking full advantage of the discounts being offered. Shopping booths and stalls have been popping up in places like The Mall and the night market, hawking all sorts of bargains.

At department stores, people can be seen stocking up on necessities like biscuits, crisps and drinks as well as snapping up food to be prepared on the joyous day of Hari Raya.

Hari Raya is the time of celebration after the month-long Ramadhan where family and friends are invited to each other's homes in the spirit of forgiveness and solidarity. Good food is traditionally the focal point of these celebrations and people go all out in preparing special dishes

for this occasion.

Meanwhile, others can be seen trying out shoes, clothing’s, songkoks and the ladies checking out head scarves, brooches and accessories. Items such as dinner sets, fancy glasses, household decor and colored lights are selling like hot cakes to spruce up the home for the upcoming Raya celebrations.

In other cases, shoppers go for hampers as presents for this traditional holiday. Another must-buy item is fireworks on sale outside supermarkets and at stalls in the markets, for the thrill of children and adults alike.

According to Dhirah, her family usually spends the night before Hari Raya cleaning up the house and checking last-minute details like the cakes and biscuits are in order as well as getting out new cushion covers and table covers for the living and dining area.

"Last-minute items that we usually shop for are sometimes tablecloth, coasters and chocolates and sweets," Dhirah added.

Meanwhile, Hally and her family usually spend the night before Raya cleaning the house, preparing the `bajuraya' for the family and putting up Hari Raya cards.

"We also get all the cakes and biscuits ready in the dishes as well as the crisps, sweets and chocolates and chill the drinks in the fridge. Another preparation is the duit Raya' packets for the children who come over," Hally stated. "After Terawih, my family and I go to my sister's house up the street and our other family members also gather together and light up big fireworks that all of us have brought over," Hally added.

"We also ask for forgiveness from each other and exchange cakes or biscuits as part of our tradition," she added.

Malek and his family in preparation for the big day, go all out and put up new curtains and carpets. "We also polish all the ornaments in the house and make sure that all the festive lights are in order plus all the usual preparations of cooking food for the big family gathering on the first day of Hari Raya," Malek added.

This shopping frenzy and last-minute preparations are a noun up to the night before Hari Raya and is a regular scene that we have come to know and love in Brunei. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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