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Ramadan
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Ramadan
is the name of the one-month fasting period when Muslims fast. Even
though from dawn to sunset, Muslims abstain from food, drink and
all sensual pleasures, that doesn't mean food is entirely out of
the picture. Two main meals are taken each day during Ramadan. Before
dawn and at the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and
a meal called the iftar. Only the sick are excused
from fasting during this month. Muslims are expected to avoid lying,
breaking promise or cheating during the month of Ramadan.
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| Hari
Raya Puasa |
Or Hari Raya Aidil Fitri is celebrated at the end of Ramadan,
it marks the end of the fasting month. The primary purpose of
fasting during Ramadan is to remind all Muslims of self-control
and submitting to Allah, the holy one. Even young kids are taught
to fast when they are young. Left column for more info. |
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Hari
Raya Aidil Fitri
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 It is also
the first of Syawal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar (more
info on the right column). Hari Raya Puasa signifies 'openness'
of both mind and heart, and is also customary to seek forgiveness
for wrongs done to family and friends. |
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Meaning
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 Many
mistake Hari Raya Puasa for the Muslim New Year but it is not.
In Malay the word Hari Raya means ‘A Great Day’ and Puasa derives
from Sanskrit meaning ‘fasting or abstention’. So, Hari Raya Puasa
literally means ‘great day of fasting’ or in actual terms ‘the
festival marking the end of a period of fasting’. |
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The
Celebration
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Muslims
starts the day by wearing new clothes and congregating in the
mosques early in the morning to perform Hari Raya Puasa prayers
followed by visiting the graves of the departed. The young will
ask for forgiveness from their elders and have open house for
relatives and friends to come to their house. Plenty of traditional
Malay delicacies are served during this festive season. The celebration
lasts for a month but most of the celebration is concentrated
in the first three days. The Muslims also give packets of money
to kids when they go visiting. The packets are usually green in
color and children often look forward to getting these money tokens
on Hari Raya Puasa. Overall, Hari Raya Puasa is a joyous occasion
for Muslims.
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Islamic
Calendar
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The
Islamic calendar (or Hijri calendar) is a purely lunar calendar.
It contains 12 months that are based on the motion of the moon,
and because 12 synodic months is only 12 x 29.53=354.36 days,
the Islamic calendar is consistently shorter than a tropical
year, and therefore it shifts with respect to the Christian
calendar.
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