Raya!!!

We arrived at Gong Kapas at 8pm. Past over iftar time. So I missed to berbuka puasa with dentuman bedil which its became a Kuala Terengganu folks tradition. Lucky I have 1 more day for me to experience our last Ramadhan at Terengganu.

During Sahur time, bedil was fired twice. Usually 10 minutes before Imsak (maybe nak kejutkan those yang belum sahur) and another when the clock shown 15 minutes before Subuh. As "meriam bedil" now was fired at Bukit Pak Apil (or famous as Bukit RTM), which is just behind my grandmother house, wooden floor will bit shaken each time cannon man fired his bedil. But I was fun to feel this over and over again. Its an experience that I still can share with my kids and also to my Johorian husband.

Our last Ramadhan in Terengganu, practically I was doing nothing much. Just scouting crowded mall in Terengganu to buy some carbonated drinks and cordiall for raya. After we just wandering around Kuala Terengganu town and stop by at old mini market near to Jalan Kamaruddin to buy some famous local rempah ratus to bring back to Puchong. Fortunately the shop was selling jeruk maman which is something that I didn't have for quite sometimes. So I bought 1 pack for our berbuka puasa dish.

Back home, Nisa and other kids bersemangat berpuasa penuh. So Nisa manage to berpuasa penuh on the last day of Ramadhan of 2008. She was so excited waiting for berbuka puasa session. I told her, do not touch the food until you hear azan and bedil. She anxiously waiting for bedil as its not something common to her.

Later when she heard bedil sound she excitedly told everybody in the house, "Dah boleh minum, dah boleh makan, bedil dah bunyi... kuaaatttt!!"

Tok Chik cooked Nasi Lemak and Mee Goreng for iftar. So jeruk maman served with Mee Goreng. All gone by 9 pm as orang dapur preparing Raya dish which is ketupas instant (ketupat palas just bought from wet market; Ppasor Ggarib), kuah kacang, gulai daging nasi minyak, acar timun, rendang ayam and ayam masak merah.All dish done before 12 midnight. Dah ramai pembantu cepatla siapnya. All went to sleeps to get good rest for Raya celebration for tomorrow even all mercun, fireworks masih berdentam-dentum.

Pagi Raya I terbangun pukul 6:30 AM. Nasi minyak aroma menusuk hidungku. My mom helping her sister Tok Chik to cook Nasi minyak and preheat early-prep lauk pauk. Kejutkan hubby to prep himself for Raya. Kids still sleeping. After subuh prayer, iroining our traditional baju melayu and baju kurung. By time clock shown 7 plus, kejutkan Nisa and told her its Hari Raya. Dengan penuh semangat dia bangun. Najah as usual still sleeping. At 7:30 Nisa help herself with others breakfast with Raya dish. Suka dia makan. As for me, I take my own sweet time to take a shower. I did not join sembahyang sunat raya. Kena jaga kids and my alzheimer maktok at home. Takpe la lagipon Najah tak bangun lagi.

While I was tidy up our room, around 8:30AM, again bedil was fired for 7 times. But this time I can witness on how bedil was explode. I quickly called Nisa and other kids to witness bedil exploded which is we can see just from the window. Actually its just a simple fireworks like. Nisa was happy with the event. Najah terbangun by this time. Showered her and fix her with baju kurung.

Around 9:30 AM most of people back home from masjid. Mari bersalam & bermaafan session started. As for Nisa, this was the first significant raya for her. During bersalam with me and her ayah, bergenang mata dia as she asked for forgiveness. Everyone in the house just smile at her.

After salam session, neighboor start knocking the door. Where the raya mood makan-makan session was started and ziarah-menziarah session begin.

That's my raya story. How about yours?

Selamat Hari Raya!