CHILDREN AND HARI RAYA

It's the children who are most excited towards the end of the fasting month. Today is the 27th day of Ramadhan when Hari Raya (day of celebration) is just round the corner so to speak. When we were kids, 27th Ramadhan was almost like Hari Raya . . . my Mom, the seamstress, would already had sewn for us girls 6 pretty frocks each. When evening came, we would rush to have our bath (without being told) and put on the prettiest frock from the rack. When night came, we would be playing sparklers with the neighbourhood children. Care sera sera . . . Thus it was until the day of Eid.

My village, like others in Melaka towards the end of Ramadhan, is well-lighted with quaint kerosene lamps like the one in the photo. The scenery is so serene, anticipating the coming of the big celebration. The trees, the flowered plants, the fences, everywhere around the houses and streets were lighted. We would drive around the neighbouring villages to see the lights.

The flower pots in my little garden all lighted up with kerosene lamps.

That's part of my house nice and bright.

Here's one tree 'dressed-up'.

Amal and her 'pelita'.

And then the children would insist on preparing cookies for Hari Raya themselves. Although I've recieved several boxes of cookies from my students, they still insist on making some themselves. Thus for the spirit of Hari Raya, I obliged . . . getting them the supplies etc. So today the kids had fun making chocolate chips cookies all by themselves, me supervising the baking and cleaning-up part.

Iman showing her siblings the how-to and . . . .

. . . Iddin and Amal digging their fingers in the mixing bowl!

Happy memories kids!!!!