TIME flies like an arrow and Syawal is just around the corner. In just few days, we will be celebrating Hari Raya. At this time past years, our hands were busy with many tasks preparing for the big day, normally at the comfort of our parents’ house.
As the joyous day is approaching, fond Raya spirit uplifts every soul effortlessly. This thought however turns out to be a pie in the sky today.
Not only we are unable to rejoice in the occasion of going back to our hometown, we are also unable to congregate for the Hari Raya prayer in the mosque together this year. Equally strange, we show how much we care for our family and friends by not paying them a visit at home.
Put simply, the classic Hari Raya tradition we look forward to each year is now subdued as the lockdown is prolonged in tandem with the ongoing spread of COVID-19. Looking on the bright sight, the movement restriction should not stand between the way of making our Hari Raya meaningful.
Instead of letting the movement restriction sombre haunts us, we should take this opportunity to stretch our creativity and make the best out of this different kind of Hari Raya. Unwittingly, there are many other traditions we could pursue merrily with a bit of a tweak.
One of the essences of Hari Raya is giving and forgiving. Remotely, we can still exchange forgiveness. After all, it is the thought and intention that matters the most. For the kids, part of the Hari Raya gratification revolves around collecting duit raya.
The convenience of sending E-duit raya zaps out the excuses of not giving one this year. Hearty home cooked meals and scrumptious kuih raya best sum up the highlight of Hari Raya. In keeping the festivity lively this lockdown, we could still feast together remotely. It will not be a bad idea to teleconference our Hari Raya brunch with families from wherever we are.
After a hearty meal, how about screenshotting fun and creative family photos like never before? These screenshots will surely dominate social media posts and hopefully brighten the day.
Another tradition we are putting on hold this year is the physical visitation. Fret not, with all the online hangout possibilities, the extra distance should not drift us apart. It would be nice to host online hangouts over kuih raya and before saying goodbye, take another memorable screenshot to be bond over in the future.
Admittedly, nothing beats the power of presence and face to face interaction during this festive seasons. In making do with the best alternatives we have, part of us may feel incomplete without the tradition we grew up with.
Chin up for this shall pass. When life gives us lemon, we make lemonade. When we have to celebrate Hari Raya in the lockdown mode, we revive it.
Amid the awkwardness and bittersweet memory that awaits us, it is worth remembering that we make no mistake by indulging Hari Raya at the odds of staying put at home. The last thing we want is becoming an irresponsible citizen who makes the pandemic far harder to contain.
If anything, let us hope that our sacrifice this Raya is temporary and most importantly, it will make way for a safer celebration in the near future. Many years down the line when the pandemic is fully contained, this different kind of Hari Raya may turn into the sweetest memory we cherish all our life.
From Putrajaya, my husband and I would like to wish our families in Tawau, Kota Kinabalu, Bangi and Machang as well as our dear friends near and far, Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin!
* Dr Zurina Moktar is an expert in business model innovation, technology commercialization and biodiversity conservation. She holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge, UK.
** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
Dr Zurina Moktar
Wed May 27 2020
Looking on the bright sight, the movement restriction should not stand between the way of making our Hari Raya meaningful. - Filepic/Bernama
Anwar beri penghormatan terakhir kepada mendiang Joseph Kurup
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hari ini memberi penghormatan terakhir kepada mendiang Tan Sri Joseph Kurup di Wisma Fook Lu Siew di Kota Kinabalu.
Penghantar makanan, kanak-kanak dua tahun maut nahas jalan raya
Seorang wanita dan anaknya yang berusia dua tahun maut dalam nahas jalan raya membabitkan dua kenderaan di Kilometer 10.2 Jalan Batu Caves menghala ke Selayang, malam Jumaat.
Microsoft uji VASA, watak AI untuk panggilan video bebas kamera web
Microsoft Research memperlihatkan VASA iaitu sistem AI yang boleh menjana wajah manusia yang hiper-realistik berserta dengan emosi pada wajah.
Malaysia, Thailand tingkatkan kerjasama perangi jenayah rentas sempadan
Kerjasama itu telah dibincangkan ketika mesyuarat dua hala beliau dengan Timbalan Perdana Menteri merangkap Menteri Dalam Negeri Thailand Anutin Charnvirakul pada Khamis.
YouTube uji ciri 'tanya AI' untuk rumuskan video
Apabila butang Ask ditekan, beberapa dialog diberikan oleh chatbot dengan gambar profil seakan ikon Gemini.
Usaha cari bakat baharu golongan Orang Asli, luar bandar perlu dipergiat - Hannah
Kementerian Belia dan Sukan tidak sesekali akan meminggirkan kanak-kanak Orang Asli dan luar bandar dalam menyediakan peluang dan akses untuk bersukan.
Lelaki bakar diri di luar mahkamah perbicaraan Trump meninggal dunia
Maxwell Azzarello didakwa menuang cecair mudah terbakar pada tubuhnya sebelum melemparkan risalah teori konspirasi ke udara.
PKR Sabah minta PM tumpu ikhtiar noktah kemiskinan tegar, isu dokumentasi
Tumpuan kepada ikhtiar menoktahkan kemiskinan tegar dan isu dokumentasi rakyat antara tiga cadangan khusus diutarakan Majlis Pimpinan Negeri (MPN) PKR Sabah kepada Perdana Menteri.
Harga jualan maksimum benih padi sah program IBPS RM54, RM58
Harga jualan maksimum benih padi sah CL220 bagi program Insentif Benih Padi Sah (IBPS) ditetapkan pada kadar RM54 di peringkat pemborong dan RM58 di peringkat peruncit berkuat kuasa 15 April.
PN masih menunggu butiran memorandum mengenai peruntukan
Perikatan Nasional masih menunggu butiran memorandum persefahaman yang akan dikemukakan oleh Kerajaan Perpaduan selepas pertemuan antara kerajaan dan wakil Ahli Parlimen pembangkang baru baru ini.
Warga emas maut dalam perjalanan pulang selepas rai Aidilfitri
Seorang wanita warga emas yang dalam perjalanan pulang selepas meraikan Aidilfitri bersama keluarga maut apabila kereta dinaiki terlibat dengan kemalangan dengan sebuah lori.
Kerajaan Johor gesa Ranhill SAJ segera tangani isu gangguan bekalan air
Kerajaan Johor menggesa Ranhill SAJ untuk segera menangani isu gangguan bekalan air yang masih berlaku pada musim perayaan Aidilfitri ini.
'Jem' luar biasa! 18 jam redah kesesakan balik raya
Tempoh perjalanan menjadi panjang disebabkan oleh masalah kesesakan lalu lintas akibat pertambahan kenderaan di atas jalan raya.
Lebih 20,000 kunjungi Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri Kerajaan Sabah
Lebih 20,000 tetamu menghadiri Majlis Rumah Terbuka Hari Raya Aidilfitri Kerajaan Sabah hari ini.
Aliran trafik semakin sesak, kemalangan di beberapa kawasan
Aliran trafik sesak selepas Plaza Tol Sungai Besi menuju ke pusat bandar setakat jam 4.50 petang.
Kegembiraan rai Aidilfitri bertukar tragedi
Nahas yang berlaku kira-kira pukul 12.45 tengah malam itu menyebabkan mangsa Nurul Izati Yunus, 23, meninggal dunia di tempat kejadian.
Aliran trafik tinggi, perlahan susulan perantau mula pulang ke ibu kota
Aliran trafik tinggi ke Kuala Lumpur dari Karak ke Tol Bentong dan Bukit Tinggi ke Genting Sempah sehingga Gombak.
'Selfish!' - Fasha Sandha sedih raya di Perlis tak jadi gara-gara dijangkiti COVID-19
Fasha berkata dia mula melakukan pemeriksaan COVID-19 selepas berasa tidak sihat badan dan mengalami bersin tidak henti sejak Raya pertama.
'Masuk rumah rasa lain' - Terkesan pemergian nenek, Zizan Razak jarang beraya di Terengganu
Anggap raya sebagai waktu berehat, Zizan bagaimanapun memberitahu dia mungkin akan pulang ke pantai timur hanya untuk berjumpa bapanya
Rumah pusaka hilang seri, Aidilfitri sepi tanpa Khalid Ali
Suasana menjadi sedikit janggal tanpa watak penghibur yang sentiasa menghiasi kemeriahan Aidilfitri keluarga besar mereka.