THANKSGIVING

Thursday nights are usually observed by the Malays in my kampung (Kampung Bukit Gedung) as perfect times for any religious celebration. That is so since in Islam, Thursday night is when the holy day, Friday, starts. Suri, our neighbour, invited us to a kenduri kesyukuran (thanksgiving feast) at their house. Khairil, her husband, had made a nazar - a promise to Allah. When a person made a nazar, he had to fulfill his wish once he felt it had been granted. Once my late Mum nazar that she would send nasi kunyit (yellow glutinous rice) and a comb of bananas to the Kampung Hulu mosque if I got through my Senior Cambridge Exams. When I did, she had to perform her intention. So it was with Khairil, my neighbour. He invited neighbours, close friends and relatives to a thanksgiving dinner last night. After one of the elders had recited some prayers, dinner was served (see picture above) to the guests all seated on the floor. The dishes seen above were accompanied by hot steaming rice. Thank you, Khairil and Suri, may all your wishes be fulfilled and blessed.