KUCHING: Busy traffic during the day and glittering lights at night – the traditional ‘bertuntong’ makes a return, bringing more excitement to the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration along Jalan Haji Kassan here.
As Satok assemblyman Datuk Ibrahim Baki lit up the pelita to officiate the Bertuntong Online Satok Kedua (BOS22) competition, the background lights of the two years’ champion immediately lit, kicking off the seven day period to Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Children were seen playing with fire crackers, and the adults lighting up raya oil lamps to bring joy to the festivity of the neighbourhood.
As restrictions ease, there is a mood of festivity to look forward to this year.
Bertuntong is lighting up oil lamps as a decoration often placed outside house compounds, by the streets, or around the neighbourhood and even at mosques or surau as well as community parks.
This is a tradition which dates back to even before the colonial days. A very special tradition passed down through family ancestry.
Bertuntong reinforces the spirit of neighbourliness and keeps the spirit of Raya very much alive, especially moving forward with the transition to the endemic phase.
House owner Mahli Udin, said Bertuntong is a tradition that has been observed for years, and he wants to see this continue for many years to come.
‘’I’ve lived here for many years and I would like to see this tradition continue.”
He said while he isn’t competing in the Bertuntong Online competition he still gets himself involved in it, because he enjoys it so much.
Mahli said the competition is just for those in Kuching, but is excited that the tradition of Bertuntong is much more celebrated than it was after the two year pandemic lull.
