GEORGE TOWN: It was a joyous homecoming for 40-year-old Muhd Elfi Mohd Rani and his family who returned to his parents’ house in Kampung Seronok, Bayan Lepas here in time for Hari Raya.
They braved the traffic, enduring the eight-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, to be with their aged parents.
“This balik kampung trip is something we eagerly anticipate every year,” he said, referring to his wife Natasha Iylia Mohd Razali, 40, and their daughters, Puteri Eleesya Nerissa Muhd Elfi, 13, Puteri Ellis Nadlyn Muhd Elfi, 12, and Puteri Elryna Naaifa Muhd Elfi, nine.
“My daughters have been longing to see their grandparents. And they enjoy the outdoors. They like to play with the other children in the spacious compound.
“There’s even a swing hanging from a mango tree.”
But more importantly, he said the reunion was a chance to reconnect with their elders and to honour them.
“The elders appreciate our presence and care.”
Welcoming them at the door were Muhd Elfi’s father, Mohd Rani Jantan, 69, and mother, Harlina Syed Bidin, 68.
With everyone settled in, Harlina wasted no time in preparing a sumptuous meal for the family
The menu, from cherished family recipes, featured traditional Hari Raya delights that are an essential part of the celebration, including ketupat, lemang, rendang, sambal, and satay with peanut sauce.
“My grandchildren gave me a list of their favourite dishes, and I made sure to stock up on all the ingredients to prepare them.
“An assortment of biscuits and traditional delicacies are laid out to bring joy and togetherness during the festival,” she said while stirring a pot of chicken curry in the kitchen.
Throughout the village yesterday, the aroma of home-cooked meals filled the air as families reunited to celebrate Hari Raya.
