PETALING JAYA: Hari Raya celebrations may be more modest for some families this year, but the festive spirit remains intact, with many choosing smaller gatherings or visiting loved ones instead of hosting large open houses.
At the same time, caterers and event suppliers are seeing steady, and in some cases rising demand, reflecting a shift rather than a slowdown in celebrations.
Entrepreneur Che Fara Azila Che Aziz, 40, from Pahang, said she continues to host a simple gathering each year, keeping it intimate and manageable.
“I usually organise a small get-together for close friends and family, about 20 to 30 people,” said Che Fara, whose home was previously affected by severe floods.
“I prefer cooking myself to save costs, especially after the massive flood that hit our area last year,” she said, adding that celebrations should be based on one’s means.
For 30-year-old teacher Rasyiqah Zaidee, rising costs and time constraints meant scaling back this year’s celebration.
“Gas and raw ingredients have become noticeably more expensive, so I decided against a grand open house,” she said.
“Instead, we still gather in a simple way, with fewer dishes and minimal decoration.”
Marketing executive Hajar Zulkepli, 32, also skipped hosting due to her husband’s work commitments and higher expenses.
“Instead, we visit relatives to keep the Raya spirit alive,” she said.
Similarly, home baker Nora Ahmad, 59, traded her usual formal open house for a more relaxed gathering this year.
“Even if I feel the pinch of rising prices, I’ll continue feeding people the way I always do. It’s my love language,” she said.
“The only difference is I didn’t prepare goodie bags for the children this time.”
Despite more cautious spending among households, industry players say demand for Raya-related services remains resilient.
Lee Ai Leng, 42, who runs a catering business, said while Ramadan sales dipped, Raya orders have held steady.
“Even with a 10% increase in our Raya packaging prices, regular clients continue to place orders. They still expect high food quality, but now place more emphasis on refined and visually appealing decorations.”
Caterer Rinawati Rhosky Mohd Nasir, 46, said bookings remain strong during the festive period.
“Like every year, we receive five to seven bookings daily during Hari Raya, and some had to be turned away as we were fully booked,” she said.
While there have been a handful of cancellations due to financial constraints and other circumstances, she noted that demand remains consistent.
Meanwhile, canopy supplier manager Amirul Atiq, 26, said bookings have picked up earlier than usual this year.
“In the first and second week, we received more orders for chairs, tables and canopies compared to last year, when bookings only started coming in later,” he said.
Most customers are not cutting back. In fact, many are requesting more items, Amirul added.
“Some asked for discounts, but only one or two. Other than that, most are fine with my price range, which is about RM500 to RM550 for chairs, tables and a canopy,” he said.
