Hari Raya 2011

2011 Hari Raya Puasa celebrations in Singapore and Malaysia, Lebaran 2011 festival in Indonesia

Hari Raya Puasa / Lebaran / Eid

The festival of Eid or Hari Raya Puasa is a joyous occasion that follows a month of fasting known as Bulan Puasa (Fasting Month) or Ramadhan. It falls on the 1 Syawal (10th month) of the Hijrah (Islamic) calendar; however exact date is determined based on moon-sighting.

When Is Hari Raya Puasa 2011 / Lebaran 2011 / Eid 2011?

Date of Hari Raya Puasa 2011 / Lebaran 2011 / Eid 2011
In 2011, the Hari Raya 2011 occasion is expected to fall on Tuesday, 30 August 2011 . However, since it’s based on the various moon phase, the exact date will be determined by the Islamic authority nearer to the event date.

Update: Due to some difference in calculation and moon position, many Muslims in North America, Europe and the Middle East will celebrate Eid on Tuesday, 30 August 2011, while others in India, Pakistan and Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia) will celebrate it on Wednesday, 31 August 2011. However, there are different interpretation even within same countries, for example some in Indonesia and India will celebrate Eid 2011 on Tuesday.

Date of Hari Raya Puasa 2012 / Lebaran 2012 / Eid 2012
In 2011, the Hari Raya 2011 occasion is expected to fall on Sunday, 19 August 2012. Read more about Hari Raya 2012 / Eid 2012.

Hari Raya Puasa / Aidil Fitri 2011 Celebrations

Singapore Hari Raya Puasa / Aidil Fitri 2011
The festival of Eid 2011, known in Singapore as Hari Raya Puasa 2011 or Hari Raya Aidil Fitri is a major Muslim holiday and is gazetted as a national holiday in Singapore.

In Singapore, Hari Raya Puasa is the most prominent of all Muslim and Malays festivals as it is a time for new clothes, decorated houses and exchange of invitations between friends and relatives. Hence, it is fitting that Hari Raya is Malay for the “grand day” or “celebration day”.

Typically, Muslims get up early on the day and have a small breakfast, usually consisting of dates. This is followed by congregational prayers at mosques or other open areas. After prayers and a short sermon, it is customary to embrace the people sitting on either side and greeting them. They also have a supplication, after prayers and the sermon, seeking forgiveness, help and mercy for all living things across the world.

It is not all celebrations though, as it is also a time of forgiveness within the Muslim community and to strengthen ties between family and friends. House visits usually begin at the parents’ home before moving on to relatives and subsequently, friends. Younger generations will ask their elders for forgiveness for the wrongs committed in the past year. It is an especially enjoyable time for children as adults give them token sums of money in green packets.

Muslims also don traditional cultural outfits on the day. The male outfit is a collarless long or short sleeve shirt with traditional embroidery, paired with a sarong or trousers and headwear called the songkok. For women, the baju kurung consists of a loose fitting blouse and long skirt with the same traditional embroidery.

In Singapore, food is a huge, integral part of any celebration. Likewise, Muslims will have a lavish spread of food on their dining tables during Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Specialties include beef rending (a spicy dish dry curry), ketupat (rice cake) and lontong (rice cake immersed in coconut gravy). These main dishes would be complemented by snacks like cookies, cakes and pineapple tarts.

What to do for tourist?
In the days leading to the Hari Raya festival, you can go to the Arab St and Paya Lebar (Pasar Geylang area) to see how the preparation for breaking fast is like and also the wide array of food sold. Arab St has a variety of Moroccon/Turkish food so you can make reservations for dinner and see how it is like to participate in the “buka puasa” or breaking fast ritual.

Some other places that you can go is the Asian Civilisation Museum and Peranakan Museum to see something distinctively different from other museums in Asia. You can also go to the National Museum and have a walk around Little India to soak in the atmosphere.

Malaysia Hari Raya Puasa / Aidil Fitri 2011
Muslims in Malaysia celebrate Eid like other Muslims throughout the world. The term “Hari Raya” literally means “Day of Celebration”. On this day, Muslims all over the world offer a special prayer in the morning and later visit their relatives and friends. The young will seek forgiveness from elders for their past misconduct.

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar and thus the date for Hari Raya Puasa varies every year. In 2011, the Malaysia Hari Raya 2011 is expected to fall on Tuesday, 30 August 2011 and is gazetted as a national holiday in Malaysia.

Officially, in Malaysia the national holidays for Hari Raya 2011 festival are the first 2 days of the celebrations, which will be on Tuesday, 30 August 2011 and Wednesday, 31 August 2011. However, it is generally accepted as a long holiday period, with some companies are not working for as long as 2 weeks. Also noted, in 2011, since the holiday coincides on the same day as Malaysia Independence days (Wednesday, 31 August 2011), Thursday, 1 September 2011 will likely be a public holiday as well.

The main greeting used by Muslims in Singapore and Malaysia is “Selamat Hari Raya” which means “Happy Eid” or “Happy Celebration” in Malay. Another greeting is “Maaf Zahir dan Batin” which translates loosely to “I seek forgiveness (from you) physically and spiritually”, for Hari Raya is a time to reconcile and renew relationships with others.

During the Muslim month of Ramadan leading up to Hari Raya, it is mandatory for Muslims to fast from dawn to dusk. All Muslims except the young, old or infirm must fast. Many Muslims also abstain from pleasures such as smoking cigarettes and sexual activities during the daylight of the fasting month.

Widely, markets, or ‘Ramadan bazaars’ are held in many areas around the country, where all sorts of food and kuih — traditional Malay delicacies — are sold for breaking fast or buka puasa.

Indonesia Hari Raya Idul Fitri / Lebaran 2011
In Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world, Eid is known as Hari Raya Idul Fitri (or more informally as Lebaran). It is a national holiday, often last for as long as two weeks, with the exact date determined by local lunar observation. Hari Raya Idul Fitri is usually a public holiday for 2 days, another 2-3 days of company given holidays, and about 5 days of forced-leave.

In Indonesia, the first day of Lebaran 2011 is likely to fall on Tuesday, 30 August 2011. Please note Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and thus this Hari Raya date given is approximation.

The official days-of for Idul Fitri, including in 2011 is usually for 2 days, which for Lebaran 2011 will be from Tuesday, 30 August 2011 to Wednesday, 31 August 2011. However, in practice many companies have much longer days-off, some of which are done via a forced annual-leave or collective annual-leave.

Aside from the day-off, in Indonesia Idul Fitri has a legally mandated salary bonus for all employees, known as Tunjangan Hari Raya as enforced by Indonesia’s Department of Labour, Employment and Society. The mandated amount of this salary bonus differs by provinces.

For example, within Jakarta region the THR bonus must be at least Rp 1 million but not less than one month’s full salary paid in advance of Idul Fitri, in addition to the employee’s regular salary. Breaching or withholding THR is a very serious labour law infraction and can be punished severely, regardless of employer status or position.

Idul Fitri is the biggest holiday in Indonesia. Business for clothes and festive necessities are having their best month during the Ramadan with shopping malls and bazaars are filled with people days ahead of Idul Fiti, causing a distinctive festive atmosphere throughout the country and traffic mayhem. In contrast, the first few weeks after the celebration is the quietest weeks for business and road traffic.

In Jakarta, where traffic jam lasting for hours is a norm rather than exception, a huge difference can be felt during the festival, with roads and streets are so sparse you can probably drive for kilometers without seeing any other car.

Many banks, government and private offices are closed for the duration of the Idul festivities, known collectively as the Lebaran.

Eid al-Fitr 2011 in India
The traditional Eid 2011 greeting in India is Eid Mubarak followed with a formal embrace. Gifts such as new clothes and money are often given as tradition. Children offer respect to parents and elderly.

Some popular places for India to celebrate Eid Mubarak 2011 are Jama Masjid in New Delhi, Aishbagh Idgah in Lucknow, and Red Road in Kolkata. Eid Mubarak 2011 is a public holiday in India. Non-Muslims usually visit their Muslim friends and neighbours on Eid to send their good wishes.

Eid 2011 in Dubai, UAE

Islam is the official religion in United Arab Emirates. Thus, the important Islamic festivals are very popular in United Arab Emirates, including in Dubai. For Eid 2011, Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE) will organize Dubai Eid Festival, a program comprising shopping offers, concerts, fireworks displays, and events.

“Eid in Dubai celebrates the Islamic festivities of Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha and translates them into events for families and children. The aim of this event is to highlight the true values of Eid including giving and sharing; the event caters to the needs of the multinational residents of Dubai, visitors from the other emirates, GCC countries, Middle East and Levant markets, as well as tourists from Iran, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and South East Asia.”

Eid 2011 in China

Greetings for Hari Raya 2011 :
Selamat Hari Raya 2011 !
Happy Eid 2011 !
Selamat Lebaran 2011 !
Selamat Aidil Fitri 2011 !
Minal Aidin Wal Faizin !
Eid Mubarak 2011 !

Happy Hari Raya 2011 !

This post is also available in: Indonesian

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