Anyone recalling those bygone Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations of the late 1970s and early 80s, a time untouched by the digital hum of mobile phones and Watsapp forwards, where the thrilling ring of a landline phone sent children scrambling like Olympic sprinters, each call a conduit for a dozen heartfelt wishes and gleeful gossip. It's when every home transformed into a festive gallery, proudly 'wallpapered' with a vibrant tapestry of greeting cards, each one a tangible echo of connection and joy.
The delightful nostalgia of those Hari Raya cards, each a precious badge of love and thoughtfulness, especially the ones adorned with a mysterious poem from a "Secret Admirer," sending the young minds into a joyous frenzy of decoding handwriting and suspecting every rhyming classmate, a stark contrast to today's flood of impersonal, algorithm-approved wishes that often feel like mere digital echoes of those cherished, almost prehistoric "stone-age emojis.
But who can truly yearn for those simpler times when receiving the very same glittery GIF of a majestic masjid from a trio of beloved aunties or uncles was not just expected. Now it's a digital rite of passage, a streamlined efficiency that, while certainly modern, somehow missed the charming chaos and delightful disarray of yesteryear. It's a must now when preparing for Hari Raya now includes beefing up data plans and ensuring full bandwidth to navigate a virtual avalanche of well-wishes, memes, and greetings, yet, despite this shift in medium, the timeless message of joy, light, and togetherness beautifully endures.
The days when the flickering warmth of traditional pelita, though charming, has gracefully yielded to the safer, brighter glow of modern twinkle lights. Yet even these present a yearly nostalgic challenge, transforming last year's tangled fairy lights and electric wires into a chaotic, bird's nest-like puzzle, demanding patient untangling, shared teamwork, and the occasional, universally understood grunt of frustration.
The sweet remembrance of those twinkling lights, once painstakingly untangled, now proudly sparkling, outshining even Ramli’s or Siti’s house across the street in that friendly neighbourhood rivalry. A stark contrast to today's hustle where the golden touch of 'Mak' has been replaced by convenient online kuih raya orders, leaving some younger folks utterly bewildered by the sight of a traditional kuih bahulu mould, mistaking it perhaps for a curious moon crater.
The simple, heartfelt joy of homemade Hari Raya kuih and cookies, even if the final delightful concoctions occasionally resembled abstract art from the Land of the Lost. For the true happiness lay not just in the sweet treat itself, but in the cherished process of shared traditions, the warmth of togetherness, the laughter, the flour fights, and the stories woven into every batch, making those memories as sweet and enduring as the treats themselves.
Even as Hari Raya Aidilfitri gracefully evolves, shaped by the currents of technology and time, its soul endures, far beyond the crisp envelopes of monetary gifts or the legendary taste of mak's ketupat, for it is, at its heart, about connection. Whether through distant video calls that bridge the miles for those far from home, or in the quiet, solo rituals that carry the profound weight of memory and love for those both near and far, always close to one's heart. A sentiment that resonates deeply with nostalgic souls, who still yearn for the Hari Raya of bygone era.
Where homes might not glow with grandeur, but instead shine brightly with the deep intention of tradition, illuminated by the gentle flicker of pelita and the patient sparkle of untangled lights.
Oh, that timeless longing for a Hari Raya Aidilfitri where the peace and love could kindle ripple not just across the homes but extend warmly across borders and screens, bringing my dear Muslim friends an abundance of peace, prosperity, health, and a joy so profound it touches the very depths of their hearts.
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!
ENDS
BY Sam Trailerman
Share your #RAYA2026 stories and stand a chance to win prizes worth up to RM3,000!
Find out how to join here. Don’t miss out! T&Cs apply.
Nganasegaran (tapessam@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.
