A hurried Raya to remember

I PREFER avoiding the risk of having to buka puasa in the car, so throughout Ramadan (when not with my family) I break my fast at home, and have a proper dinner at 8pm. Thankfully, most of my friends and colleagues agree with this logic.

On Sunday I was slightly late, so I was still parking my car at 8pm when the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal came on the radio to make his customary announcement. I always enjoy this bit of ceremony, with its traditional words and phrasings. For the first of Syawal he says, Hari Raya “Puasa”, not “Aidilfitri” as is now the norm among Malaysian Muslims in WhatsApp greetings.