Folks on the first day [August 22] of fasting in this month of Ramadan, the whole family, the kids, the grand kids and the son in law was at our home to break the fast [iftar] together. In our language it is refer to as the Buka Puasa. So as usual when the whole family are here grandma would prepare more foods and other spreads for that evening event. It was really nice to have all the three generations of us enjoying the foods together in the true spirit of Ramadan. Above are the spreads at the table on that day.
Before starting to enjoy the meal little Azib, our youngest grandson decided to lead the saying of a short prayer [doa] as seen in this image.
Have a nice day and do enjoy the Ramadan.
Before starting to enjoy the meal little Azib, our youngest grandson decided to lead the saying of a short prayer [doa] as seen in this image. Have a nice day and do enjoy the Ramadan.
Dear Pak Idrus,
ReplyDeleteSelamat Berpuasa to you and your family. May this Ramadhan brings out the best of our prayers and doings.
Liza, thanks for the visit and the Ramadan greeting as well as sharing your thoughts on the importance of this fasting month.
ReplyDeleteMy hope are that we all continue to prosper together and continue to enjoy life.
Have a nice day and take care.
Selamat berpuasa Pak Idrus. As a non-Muslim, I will be enjoying the Bazaar Ramadhan. LOL!
ReplyDeleteheadsteadi, thanks for the visit and the Ramadan greeting, as well sharing your thoughts on the way of Ramadan especially the Bazaar.
ReplyDeleteIt look like everyone are enjoying the month in one way or the other. I think the Bazaar which emerged during Ramadan has nothing to do of how the fasting should be observed but society always has a way of introducing new way to enjoy the month especially as a place of getting varieties of foods for their Buka Pusa and to the non Muslim it is the time to enjoy those foods which are found in abundance only during this month. So enjoy it is only right tha everyone enjoy the month as well.
Have a nice day.
Pak Idrus
ReplyDeleteEvery year during Ramadhan brought back good memories to me. I studied in Mara College and later on Mara-owned matriculation college where 95% to 99% of the student population are Malay/Muslim.
I joined them preparing berbuka meals at the dining hall. I also joined them bersahur.
These little activities had helped nurture bonding and healthy relationship among us. 1Malaysia were non-existent then. We didn't need them.
Those were the days. Sweet memories. :)
Pak Idrus,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful buka puasa spread! Malaysian food is truly the best, and to be able to break the fast with such wondrous meals is fantastic!
It reminded me of a statistic that we were given when we were Peace Corps volunteers in M'sia in the mid-70's. On the average, Peace Corps women gained about 10 pounds in weight during their two-year stay. I don't remember any statistics for men, but I definitely gained weight (oh, about 15 pounds) in Kelantan!
Anyway, to all my Muslim friends, for the holy month of Ramadan, I quote my Balinese friend to you: "Kepada Rekan-rekan Umat Muslim tercinta, Selamat Menunaikan Ibadah Puasa, semoga diberikan kekuatan hati, pikiran dan iman sampai berbuka nanti!"
Pak Idrus,
ReplyDeleteHave a happy Ramadhan:-)
Regards always,
Yvonne
headsteadi, thanks for the return visit and sharing your thoughts on your experience of the Ramadan, especially so on that wonderful time that you have had at the Mara institutions where you had your early education.
ReplyDeleteWow! you must be someone special to get in to that Malay only institution of education and like you narrate it was indeed a great experience to be among the Muslim during the fasting month. I believe you really enjoy those great moment in your life. Indeed a great story to tell your grandchildren, for not many have had that opportunity to be where you was.
To me we Malaysian have learned to live in peace and harmony all the years through and most of the time we are truly color, race and religion blind. It is the politician that seem not to understand the progress that we had made in the culture of living in harmony with each other.
Race would be there till dooms days and from the look of it we Malaysian have achieve a lot in that short period of time, just 51 years and we are as united as any species could be. I hope the politician would realized fast that been racist does not do anyone any good. The outcome of the 2008 election shows we Malaysian has in a way matured in our political belief.
Enjoy the Ramadan and do have a nice day.
Howard, thanks for the visit and the good words on the spread that we enjoy on that first day of Buka Puasa. We all indeed enjoy that evening.
ReplyDeleteThanks as well for narrating your wonderful experiences in Malaysia during your youth with the Peace Corp. Fasting month in a way brought the goodness in us all. It has always been the Malaysian tradition to entertain others with foods. It was really not a surprise that the non Muslim got extra kilos during the fasting month, what! with the varieties of foods available during that whole month.
Nowadays it is much different in that there are the Ramadan Food Bazaar everywhere for us to indulged ourselves with all the foods and drink that we would want. A non Muslim friends quip that during this month the country is a heaven for all kind of foods and drink and she just could not go on a diet. How true.
True what you Javanese friend said. Fasting during Ramadan is actually the state of your mind, if you set it to fast you would surely get there and enjoy the meals during Buka Puasa.
Hope that you would be here on one the Buka Puasa and get to sample the Ramadan Bazaar. Have a nice day.
Anonymous, Yvonne thanks for the visit and the greeting.
ReplyDeleteWell as you know Ramadan is a special month and getting everyone of the family together especially at Buka Puasa made is indeed a wonderful occasion to enjoy the meals together. At the same time it is a mean to expose the young on the true meaning of family value. By doing that it kept the tradition alive.
Have a nice day.
Salam, Pak Idrus!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Azib! Such a little gentleman!
Selamat Menunaikan Ibadah Puasa!
~Covert_Operations'78, Ee Lynn thanks for the visit and the good words on little Azib. Well, it look like he learned fast indeed.
ReplyDeleteI believe you are enjoying the Ramadan bazaar as well. Have a nice day and take care.
Pak Idrus,wish I was in Malaysia to enjoy such a feast! Have a Happy Ramadan. It really soothes my mind when I visit your blog.
ReplyDeleteselamat berbuka pak idrus from xplorer n family
ReplyDeletebnaipal, thanks for the visit and the good words on my kind of blogging.
ReplyDeleteI am indeed glad that you enjoy this short posting of an event of Ramadan. It is a special event among families to break the fast together whenever it is possible.
If you ever visit Malaysia during Ramadan you would be awe with the Ramadan Bazaar where all kind of foods and drink are sold for the benefit of the Muslim and the non Muslim alike.
Have a nice day.
xplorer, thanks for the visit and the Ramadan greeting.
ReplyDeleteAt my age it is truly great to have all the family members together at Buka Pusa. An enjoyable event indeed.
Do enjoy the Ramadan as well. Have a nice day.
Our warmest greetings to you, Idrus, and your Family as you observe Ramadan.
ReplyDeleteSome of my fondest memories of Malaysia are associated with my experiences of Ramadan there. Participating in KL in this tradition I experienced keenly not only the concept of "1Malaysia" but of "1World".
Selamat Menunaikan Ibadah Puasa to u and famili Pak Idrus. I was reading news online earlier on and took the opportunity to visit your nice blog again :)
ReplyDeleteHave a good Ramadhan.
louis, thanks for the visit and the Ramadan greeting as well sharing your experiences during Ramadan in Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteYes for a foreigner it must be quite an experience. Actually in those days there was no such things as the Ramadan Bazaar. It is quite a recent development and today it is part of the Ramadan scene. Indeed a great place to get foods and drinks for the Breaking of the Fast.
Anyway for our family we cook our own foods for the Buka Puasa. And at time just buy one or two traditional cakes to supplement the spread.
Have a nice day.
Puan Isah, thanks for the visit and the Ramadan greeting.
ReplyDeleteActually it is really nice to have all the family together during the Buka Puasa. It does became more meaningful when one are in the golden age.
Enjoy the Ramadan to you too. Have a nice day.
Selamat berpuasa, Pak idrus. May the blessings of Ramadan be upon us all.
ReplyDeleteI miss the Ramadan bazaar, and the various types of sweet and savory cakes available. Here, sometimes we have sandwiches for buka! But then again, it is still rezeki that we are grateful for.
Sharifah, thanks for the visit and the Ramadan greeting. My you and the family are blessed as well.
ReplyDeleteWell it look like the Ramadan Bazaar is becoming a regular feature come Ramadan. To me Ramadan should not be about eating but rather a spiritual exercise to strength the mind, for the fasting is about the state of mind. Once you set to fast the rest should follow,like be good, eat moderately and continue to enjoy life.
Have a nice day.