The air is filled with laughter and the aroma of festive delicacies as families come together for Hari Raya.
It is a joyous occasion of reunion and celebration – usually complemented by a feast of delicious traditional dishes, served in homes that are beautifully decorated.
In Malaysia, it is also a time when most people return to their hometowns (balik kampung) to reconnect and spend time with loved ones.
Looking their best is part of the Hari Raya experience. Families often curate their looks, coordinating outfits months in advance in order to take wonderful family portraits.
Some are also excited to capture their OOTD – that’s “outfit of the day” in social media lingo – and post on their pages.
This trend of sharing one’s looks online gained traction in the 2010s and remains popular to this day. If you’re a fan of posting such content, no doubt you’ll want to flaunt your beautiful outfits this Hari Raya. (Would it be your “OOR” aka “outfit of Raya”?)
No matter where in Malaysia you’re spending the festivity this year, there’s always a beautiful place you can shoot your pictures at.
Whether it is a majestic mosque or a spot that shows off the serene kampung life, or bustling city life, Malaysia has plenty of beautiful places that make for great backdrops – so your festive ‘fits can truly stand out.
Stately sanctuaries
Featuring grand architecture and open spaces, mosques are great as backgrounds for your Hari Raya pictures.
The historic Ubudiah Mosque in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, Perak is one example of a beautiful heritage landmark.
Built in the early 1900s, the mosque was commissioned by Sultan Idris Murshidul Azzam Shah as a gesture of gratitude for his recovery from illness.
The mosque features a golden dome and marble exterior, with a solid pathway leading to the inside. This creates a perfect frame for the dome, as well as for your photos.
It was designed by British architect A.B. Hubback, who worked on various historical landmarks in Perak (like the Ipoh Railway Station) and Kuala Lumpur, including Masjid Jamek and Carcosa, which is part of today’s Seri Negara heritage building.
Meanwhile, in Negri Sembilan, give Sri Sendayan Mosque a visit. Its all-white facade exudes a sense of calm and spirituality, not to mention a striking contrast to your (most likely) colourful outfit.
Spanning 4.5ha, the symmetrical walkway and spacious courtyard offer plenty of spots for creative shots, while the grand entrance provides a beautiful frame for both solo and family portraits.
If you’re in Terengganu, Crystal Mosque can add a “literal” shine to your photos. Impressively built with crystal (hence its name), glass and steel, the mosque reflects light during the day. This can lend your portraits a magical shimmer.
Built between 2006 and 2008, it also features a floating design that adds an ethereal touch to any photo taken here. Shoot from the riverside walkway, or use the open space outside the mosque for more fanciful portraits.
In Labuan, you can visit An-Nur Jamek Mosque, also known as the State Mosque. It features a distinctive exterior that resembles a giant shuttlecock.
Built in 1988, the mosque blends Bruneian Malay and Ottoman architectural influences, with two tall minarets that also serve as landmarks for vessels approaching the island.
Pick outfits in neutral colours or earthy tones to complement the mosque’s grey-white facade. (Despite the mosque having a “sci-fi” look, you may want to avoid wearing futuristic costumes here, unless that’s the theme you’re going for.)
Fun and quirky
Do you know what else OOTD can stand for? “Out of the ordinary”. You don’t have to stick to the typical settings for your Raya photos; give them a creative spin by choosing unconventional spots.
For example, in the heart of KL’s Chinatown you will find Kwai Chai Hong, a charming alley that blends heritage with creativity. Once an abandoned back lane, it was revived in 2019 when a group of passionate entrepreneurs restored the surrounding shophouses.
Make your OOTD photos pop by using the murals – painted by local artists, mostly depicting life in the area during the 1960s – as your backdrop. There are also seasonal art installations that you can pose with to give your photos that extra oomph.
If this lively alley is overstimulating you with its mix of colours, maybe you’ll prefer visiting a calming blue place in Selangor instead.
Kuala Selangor Blue City is just as advertised – you’ll see rows of brilliant blue cabins that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Smurfs’ world.
Since it is part of the Kuala Selangor Cabin Camp, you can choose to stay overnight here. Have a little getaway with your family, while going full blue on your OOTD shoots.
Don’t miss the Hobbit‑style houses tucked in the quiet corner, which add an extra whimsical touch.
Meanwhile, for a distinctly local touch to your Raya portraits in Sarawak, pose with its quirkiest statue yet – the “viral buffalo”, located in Serian.
Although the statue has existed for decades, it only gained fame online in recent years when netizens noticed its comical expression.
For the best shot, take a picture next to the buffalo’s head to capture its cute and funny expression. Even better if you can mimic its gaping mouth and bulging eyes!
Apparently, there was once a tiger statue (with a smiling face that’s just as amusing) accompanying the buffalo. But that has been removed.
Now the only statues from the cat family that you can pose with are the famous ones in Kuching.
For example, there’s the massive white cat at Padungan Roundabout. During festivities, it even gets dressed up in traditional attires.
There are a few other cat statues at this roundabout, though they may not be as festively dressed. See if you can find and pose with all of them.
The kampung life
Of course, most people would balik kampung during Hari Raya. Among the quintessential backdrops for Raya OOTD in homey villages are traditional Malay houses and a wide expanse of padi fields.
When Melaka is mentioned, maybe neither one pops up in your mind. This is your chance then to explore Kampung Morten, a heritage village located in the heart of the city.
Now over a century old, the village preserves more than 100 traditional Malay wooden houses. Take photos here during the day, or do so at night when the houses are bathed in neon lights.
Remember to be respectful when taking your photos though, as it is still a proper neighbourhood with many families living there.
Kedah is perhaps the state you would typically think of when it comes to padi fields. It is known as the “Rice bowl of Malaysia” (aka Negeri Jelapang Padi) after all.
The state boasts vibrant green or yellow padi fields that’s just perfect as a backdrop for any picture.
(For Klang Valley residents, the Selangor equivalent of this can be found in Sekinchan.)
Last year, a tourist attraction focused specifically on padi was launched in Sungai Petani. Aptly named Kampung Padi, the recreational place has more than just a padi field created for picture taking. It also has fun activities for the whole family, such as ATV rides and fishing.
Sabah is another state that has many padi fields. But there is one particular area, namely Kampung Sangkir in Kota Belud, where you can get a scenic padi field landscape – plus an iconic background detail: Mount Kinabalu.
Kota Belud itself is essentially a great destination for taking photos with Mount Kinabalu in the background – it is most visible at around 10am, and then again at around 3pm.
Other spots you can go to in this district are Tegudon Tourism Village and Polumpung Malangkap, each boasting rivers with crystal-clear water.
One with nature
Perlis is a state brimming with natural beauty, as evidenced by one of its fairly new attractions: Kampung Wai.
The picturesque area has a relaxing 3km-long canal that winds through 500-million-year-old limestone hills. This can definitely serve as a serene background for your OOTD shoot.
If you’re feeling adventurous – and your Raya outfits allow you to move more freely – hop into one of the kayaks and paddle to the canal’s 765m-long tunnel. Its curved entrance can be an interesting element you can use to frame your shots.
You can also do a “desert-inspired” photoshoot in Kelantan, specifically at Pantai Mek Mas in Kota Baru.
The beach’s unique point is its sand dunes. These dunes do take some effort to climb, but you’ll be jubilant once you’ve conquered them and captured some of your most aesthetically-pleasing photos.
You can go back to doing more water-related photoshoots by the shore. Play with the waves to add a more dynamic vibrancy to your photos.
Beaches and sand dunes sounding not your thing? Then head to the highlands of Pahang.
Cameron Highlands is one of the cool places where you can capture the best of the state’s verdant beauty.
You can take your pick of photoshoot locations like a tea plantation, a butterfly farm or a rose garden.
Taking photos early in the morning will give your OOTD shoots a misty, otherworldly look. Go during sunsets to add a rich golden glow to your photos.
Urban beauties
Looking for a modern landscape instead? If you’re in Johor and within the vicinity of Forest City, its futuristic buildings can help you find what you seek.
The urban development in Johor Baru features towering apartments and gleaming structures that lend a cool edge to your OOTD shoots. Glass, steel and concrete work in your favour for that modern city vibe, which will contrast beautifully with your traditional Raya outfit.
The best part? With the area’s low population density, chances are you won’t have people photobombing you just as you strike the perfect pose.
If you’re in Putrajaya, the federal territory too has plenty of futuristic structures. But if you have to pick an outstanding point to focus on, go for the bridges.
Seri Perdana Bridge may be your choice if you’re looking for a background that complements your outfit. Featuring Moorish architecture, it has eight domed rest stops where you can do your photoshoot.
Seri Gemilang Bridge is another highly photographed bridge in this city, due to its European design, while Seri Saujana Bridge has multi-length cables that create an interesting lined background. For a less rigid adornment, use the bridge’s arches as backdrop instead.
Seri Wawasan Bridge, often used as a film or photoshoot location, similarly features looming cables that add a dramatic flair to any photo taken on the bridge. Or pose with it from afar; its asymmetrical design adds more dynamic to your background.
Arrive at Seri Wawasan Bridge before sunset to capture your pictures in three different light settings: daylight, sunset and night. In the evenings, the bridge turns colourful thanks to the neon lights that illuminate it.
Speaking of night shoots, Penangites can take their OOTD sessions to another level – not just by doing them at night, but also by doing them at 249m above the ground. Specifically, at the Rainbow Skywalk at Penang’s Komtar Tower.
When you take a photo on the glass bridge, you’ll get a beautiful shot of the city’s skyline, all lit up at night. Through the transparent platform, you’ll capture buildings’ lights twinkling like stars underneath your feet.
