KUCHING: With Hari Raya Aidilfitri just a day away, Emylia Khaleda Norhassan is looking forward to eating her mother’s homemade dishes and desserts such as the chicken rendang, and pulut kaya.
For the past few weeks, she has been getting her house spick and span for the festival if she is not undergoing her training with the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) as a psychiatrist,
“This year, many of my family members will be back to celebrate with us here in Kuching because last year they didn’t.
“I have bought a few biscuits and cakes. My mother and I may bake some Kek Lapis Sarawak as well for our guests,” said the 24- year-old lass.
“I’ll be sporting four colours this Hari Raya which are black, purple, turquoise and dusty pink!” added Emylia enthusiastically.
Housewife, Nurul Nadiah Shafie, 25, has been getting her house ready for Hari Raya even before the fasting month started.
“This year, I will be celebrating the festival both at my parents’ house in Kuching and also with my husband’s family at Kampung Sebandi Ulu in Asajaya.
“We will be travelling back and forth.
“My husband loves Hari Raya Aidilfitri a lot so he asked me to prepare everything as early as March. We all went to the tailor early to get our garments measured . We will all be sporting emerald green this year.” said Nadiah.
Non-Muslims are looking forward to visiting their Muslim friends during the festival.
One of them is former national bowler, Jonathan Ding Sagan, 24, who is glad to be back in Kuching.
“For the past three years, I’ve been spending the Hari Raya holidays in West Malaysia. I understand that here in Sarawak, we have a different Raya environment, so I am really looking forward to it.
“I have bought a few pairs of Baju Melayu to get into the Raya spirit and the colours I have chosen are emerald green, dark brown and grey.
“I’ll be visiting my friends to enjoy all the lovely food during Raya such as rendang, lemang, ketupat and kek lapis,” he said.
This Raya, 23-year-old Julia Peter is looking forward to visiting her Muslim friends from the gym.
“Last Raya, I followed them as they went visiting and it was a lot of fun! I especially loved the food and the gatherings.
“I love the soto and rendang. I wore my Kebaya top last year. I would probably wear Baju Kurung this year!,” said Julia.
