Celebrating Togetherness: Travelling to the City to Create a Memorable Hari Raya Aidilfitri

By: Michelle Liew

With the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations and school holidays happening at the same time, many residents are taking advantage of the festive season to spend time with their family around the city.

Dataran Merdeka, which is one of the focal points of domestic and foreign visitors, can be seen to be flocked with both foreign tourists and local visitors during the past week.

Visitors can be seen wearing Baju Melayu and baju kurung and taking pictures with their families against the backdrop of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

Penangite Noraini Md. Nor, 68, said that her family's Aidilfitri celebration was different this time as she travelled to the capital with her husband, children, son-in-law and grandchildren for a vacation.

"I have four children and one of my sons is living in Pahang. He couldn't celebrate in Penang because his father-in-law is sick.

"So, we as a family without planning anything decided to visit him in Pahang, then we went to Melaka which is the home of one of my other children and then we headed to Kuala Lumpur for a stop,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Nizam Budin, 42, stated that he previously worked as a civil servant in Kuala Lumpur and lived in Petaling Jaya and moved to Penang about 11 years ago.

“Ever since I moved, I would usually still make a visit to Dataran Merdeka, but usually at night.”

"So, I finally took the opportunity to come to the city and bask in the here before continuing to other places in Kuala Lumpur to do my shopping," he said.

These two show us that wherever you go, as long as you’re with the right company and the right mindset, it is as festive as it can be.