It is time of the (Hegira) year again. You know when Ramadan comes, our mind straight-away think about the celebration at the end of the month. I cannot recall when I first started fasting. In the old days observations on fasting were very strict - some of which I regard as arising out of plain ignorance on our part of the religious requirements. We spit a lot during Ramadan back then as we thought nothing should get pass our teeth and hence into our stomach. So saliva is out....Nowadays we are more enlightened.
Whatever it is fasting is tiring for me. My metabolic rate is high. So you can imagine my hunger pangs during the fasting month. Usually I am lighter by at least 3-5kgs every Ramadan. After two months, my weight gets back to the original 58kg until the next Ramadan.
Ramadan is not eventful for me. Neither does the Hari Raya. Being poor during my younger days means that baju raya is extremely optional. Sometimes, I get school uniform for my baju raya, a two-in-one solution devised by my parents. Despite that, year in year out, Hari Raya is always a happy occasion despite the absence of baju raya. When I starts working and having children, my wife and I do buy baju raya for my children. And sometimes my wife buys baju raya for me too. Somehow, old habits die hard. I don't really give a serious thought about baju raya. I wear 'new' cloths during Hari Raya but I don't really wear baju raya. Nowadays, I wear simple ordinary baju Melayu for the Eid prayers, and a normal t-shirt or shirt plus trousers when visiting relatives and friends.
This habit does not mean that Hari Raya is unimportant but what it really indicates is just that I don't really 'over'-celebrate Hari Raya, more than I think is necessary. Or perhaps I am an odd man during this celebratory period!
Selamat Hari Raya * Maaf Zahir Batin!
