Indeed it was a joyous Raya. Hectic though but it was a great day to celebrate the end of Ramadan. We had organized an Open House so our friends and relatives could come over to celebrate this auspicious day with us. The Open House started at 11.30AM Sunday September 20, 2009. From that time onward friends and relatives start streaming in and the house soon warmed up to those wonderful guests. We had laid out a special treat of Biayani and cakes for our guests and we are indeed happy that they enjoyed the spreads. 
The guests kept coming with a lull of some minutes between before another group came. Among those that came are The President and Deputy of the Kelab Volvo Klasik, David and his family and Col. Lee and his spouse. Two persons that I had only known in cybersphere are among the guests; one is this Blogger and the other is a visitor to my Blog from Bahrain, whose parent lives nearby. She came with her spouse and her dad, a close friend of mine, a charming lady indeed. The top image shows the Blogger and the lady who work in Bahrain posing for the camera with my spouse and our youngest daughter. The other images show the guests enjoying themselves at that Raya Open House. 
The Open house which started at just past eleven ended at eleven in the evening. It looks like it was a marathon of some twelve hours we hosted those wonderful folks. As I had said earlier it was hectic for us as the host but then it was also an enjoyable occasion where we get to entertain our friends and relatives on this once a year festival, the Hari Raya. 
By tradition one need no invitation to visit an Open House on Hari Raya. But nowadays because folks no longer live in one vicinity or Kampong; to make it easy for people to come over it has became a norm to organized an Open House and tell others of the event. For that purpose a day is chosen for such an event. It has now become a norm to organize an Open House during the Hari Raya. It need not be on the first day of the Eid Fitr but could be on any day from the first day of Eid Fitr. So Open House could be on any days throughout the whole month after Ramadan. Even the government nowadays organized an official Open House for all the major religious festival and it is open to all. If you happened to be here during that time you could just attend the official Open House and enjoy the tradition which only happens in Malaysia. Have a nice day.[Please click on image to enlarge]
22 comments:
My family & I had a great time at your home Pak Idrus. The food was good and the typical Malay hospitality that was warm as the KL weather. Thank you Pak Idrus & Family.
And what a lovely open house it was, Pak Idrus! Thank you once again for having me over. I enjoyed everything tremendously, especially the company! Makcik and your daughter are so much fun to chat with!
With Appreciation,
Ee Lynn.
Dear Pak Idrus, what a lovely day you both had hosting your friends on Raya day! I wish I had been there to personally greet you. I can imagine sampling the local dishes I miss so much! Selamat Hari Raya.
Hello Idrus,
What happy scenes!
I wish I had been in KL so I could stop by at your Open House.
Hello Lynn!
Hello Louis! So sorry you could not join us! It was a very nice and meaningful Hari Raya celebration!
David Xavier, thanks for the visit and the good words on my Open House.
It was good of you come over and brought along those wonderful kids of yours. We are indeed happy to play host to you and the family and hope that we would get to enjoy more of such gathering in the future.
Have a nice day.
~Covert_Operations'78~, Ee Lynn thanks for the visit and the good words on us and the Open House.
Well at last I get to meet you in person after knowing you only in cybersphere. We are indeed glad that you enjoy the event and had a wonderful exchange of notes with my spouse and our daughter Lin.
Have a nice day.
svllee, thanks for the visit and the good words on the subject of this posting, the Open House that we had organised on Hari Raya.
Well when you are next in KL do drop in for Hari Raya in our culture is one month long. We would organized something to remind you of the wonder the Malaysian food.
Have a nice day
louis, thanks for the visit and the good words on the subject of this posting. That wonderful Raya Open House that we have had at our home on Hari Raya.
It would be great if you had come along. Anyway just get here and I would organized a special gathering for you at my home with all the trimming of a Hari Raya.
Have a nice day.
~Covert_Operations'78~, Ee lynn thanks for the additional input for Louis.
Like you I met Louis first in cybersphere and when we visited Seattle last summer; met him and his spouse in the real world for the first time. They both were a wonderful host while we were holidaying in Seattle. It was our first meeting and yet it was as though we had known each other for a long time already.
I am hoping that Louis and his other half Elena would come again to Malaysia and this time I would play host.
Have a nice day.
Even if its just one day, but full of joy, happiness, satisfaction, & feeling of closeness, it is definitely a celebration to be cherished. Alhamdulillah. I could see 1Malaysia, practised! Pak Idrus beruntung dapat bersama bergembira dgn rakan-rakan pelbagai keturunan. Dan menunjukkan hebatnya kita. Salam.
Selamat Hari Raya to you, Kak Asmah and family! Meriah nampak your openhouse. Im sure everybody enjoyed themselves.
Kak Asmah & Pak Idrus,
Ada ke cadangan nak buat Open House Raya kat Tanjong Keling? Syawal kan sebulan!
SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI.
Temuk, thanks for the visit and the good words as well as sharing your thoughts on the subject of this posting.
Yes, the Open House is a great way to enjoy the Hari Raya with friends and relative. We did have a great culture of tolerance and harmony in this country and the Open house is one way of giving thanks to all Malaysian.
We had 1Malaysia long before the politician try to use it to their gain. It would not work for them since they still did not believe in a multiracial political party but instead still stick to the old ways which has lapsed it shelved life. Anyway let us hope for the best and together work for a better Malaysia for our kids and the future generation.
Have a nice day and Selamat Hari Raya.
Salt N Turmeric, Farina thanks for the visiit and the raya greeting for the family. The same to you and the other half. Hope that you could visit us when you are next back in Malaysia.
Yes I believe that those folks did enjoy the Open House and We are indeed happy to have contribute to their happiness. It was indeed a joyous day.
Have a nice day
puteri hang li poh, Nazli thanks for the visit and the suggestion. Well we have to think about it. It is a good idea.
Selamat Hari Raya to you too and take care.
I'm so happy that ur open hse was such a hit (which was expected anyway). Wish we had been there.
Sheela Jayaraj, thanks for the visit and the good words on my Open House. Yes it was a joyous one indeed. Hope that you could come over the next time.
Have a nice day.
SELAMAT HARI RAYA PAK IDRUS!
Wah, meriahnya open house (:
Liza, thanks for the visit and the good words on my Open House.
Have a nice day and take care.
Hello Pak Idrus, selamat hari raya.
Beautiful pics you have here and really nice to see everyone having fun at your open house.
When I first came here I noticed several homes having 'open house' signs outside their homes.
As it was not CNY or hari raya or X'mas I wondered what it was.
Only later learned it was a house for sale, ha ha.
So disini different meaning.
You have fun and keep well, Pak Idrus, Lee.
Uncle Lee, thanks for the visit and the good words on those images and the Open House. Yes indeed an enjoyable event.
I know that an Open House in the US and Canada have a different meaning then the concept of Open House in Malaysia. Here it is a special day during a festival.
Have a nice day.
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