KUALA LUMPUR: Amid the joyous festivities of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, a somber reality looms for countless Malaysians studying or working abroad.
The cherished tradition of reuniting with loved ones becomes a distant dream for them, as commitments keep them from returning to their homeland during this special occasion.
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Miles away from home, Nur Dini Mohd Rodzi, 27, refused to let distance dampen her Raya spirit.
Determined to celebrate with a taste of home, the third-year student from Izmir Katip Çelebi University took a 13-hour train journey from Izmir to Ankara, reaching the Malaysian embassy to attend a special Raya gathering.
"I am very grateful and happy to celebrate the first day of Syawal with fellow Malaysians here.
"The much-anticipated gathering is a chance to celebrate Hari Raya just like home - we performed the Aidilfitri prayer at the embassy, and I enjoyed the sumptuous Malaysian delicacies,” she told Bernama.
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Nur Dini and her friend, Nur Sabrina Nasaruddin, 23, had looked forward to attending the embassy's Raya open house.
"It is a lively Raya ambience at the embassy. The atmosphere makes me feel at home, but it also makes me miss home even more.
"I enjoy tasting the Malaysian delicacies, especially satay and kuih raya, which bring a taste of home”, said Nur Sabrina.
For Nor Syahmi Suliman, a final-year physiotherapy student at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, she enjoyed contributing to the preparation of a delightful Raya menu with the Ladies' Association of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Perwakilan) Ankara.
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"The relief and happiness were immense when many commended our homecooked Raya food,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian ambassador to Turkiye, Sazali Mustafa Kamal, expressed his gratitude to Perwakilan Ankara for their dedicated efforts over the past weeks in selecting and preparing Malaysian delicacies for this year's Raya celebration.
"Every year, we select a few dishes to ensure Malaysians and guests can enjoy the Raya delicacies. This year, we featured nasi minyak, ayam masak merah and rendang daging.
"We will continue this initiative in years to come with minor changes to the menu. To showcase the rich tapestry of Malaysian cuisine overseas, we will introduce variations to the menu, incorporating delicious Chinese and Indian dishes alongside our traditional Raya favourites, so that we can enjoy good Malaysian cuisine overseas,” he told Bernama.
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This year, Sazali said the Raya gathering at the embassy on the first day of Syawal (Wednesday) was eventful and enjoyable where some 150 Malaysians and their families attended.
"The gathering not only bought a taste of home to Malaysians overseas but also strengthened the bond among the Malaysian diaspora here,” he said.
Hosting Raya open houses has long been a tradition for Malaysian foreign missions overseas, a way to spread the joy of Aidilfitri and to foster the cherished spirit of Raya among Malaysians residing abroad.
From sharing traditional delicacies to extending warm greetings, these open houses offer a taste of home and they foster a sense of community for Malaysians living far away.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian ambassador to Cambodia, Datuk Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim, said it is the embassy’s tradition to hold open houses to keep the Raya spirit alive.
This year, he said about 150 Malaysians and friends of Malaysia, including home-based and locally recruited staff of the embassy, Malaysian professionals, as well as foreigners who have been close friends to the embassy, were invited.
"Hari Raya is a celebration that Malaysians celebrate regardless of their ethnicity or background. Every Malaysian looks forward to enjoying rendang and ketupat on the first day of Raya.
"Most of all, the feeling of belonging comes alive during this festival, especially when they are away from home.
"We host Raya open houses to keep the spirit of Raya instilled in every Malaysian residing here, one way to cement the strong unity among the people for many years to come,” he told Bernama. - Bernama
