TODAY marks the fourteenth day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri. In the Muslim month of Syawal, that is halfway through. Schools have opened and lots of people have gone back to work.
But Raya celebrations continue with gusto and in full spirit. Corporate open houses keep everyone busy. A lot of diary juggling is taking place as the lemang, ketupat and rendang make their appearance again.
As for children, many of them make their rounds in the neighbourhood where they live. Just like in the kampung, children will visit neighbours, most of whom they know or are related to.
But in an urban setting, especially in flats and apartments, children will knock on the gates of any Muslim home, give out the salam greetings and shout: “Kami nak Raya (we want to come in for Raya)”.
These children are mostly of primary school age. There may be a few in lower secondary. This has left some hosts in a mild state of confusion. Not all, but some.
The host wasn’t sure who these children were. They were not familiar at all. Could it be their neighbours’ children? Or friends of their children or grandchildren?
Often, as it turned out, they wereare just children from the neighbouring flats or apartments. They gathered around and decided to drop in on their Muslim neighbours.
Some host would sit quietly and not open their doors to these “strangers”. I know that for a fact. Simple reason — they don’t know who these children are.
Many others would open the door and invite the children in for drinks and kuih. And the much-anticipated duit raya.
Of late, there’s a new cry from some of these children. Which may have struck a rather unfriendly cord with some hosts. The new cry is this: “Kami nak duit raya (we want ang pows)”.
In good times, many hosts have no real issue in giving duit raya. Again, depending on the location and neighbourhood type.
Many hosts would put a RM1 note in the packet and task someone from the household to distribute the money. Many a times the children would tear open the packet immediately to see the content.
That may still be all right. It is when they shout “Seringgit aje (only one ringgit)” that causes embarrassment to the host. Giving duit raya is not compulsory mind you. Perhaps, that is the amount the host could spare considering today’s cost of living.
Many people don’t want to disappoint the children who drop by for Raya visit. It is part of the fun of Raya rounds for children.
But, expressing their disappointment openly like that is certainly “unhariraya”. And this is where parents need to come in. They should advise their children who go on Raya rounds not to be rude. That doesn’t include throwing away the empty Raya packets by the roadside.
Alas, how time flies, bringing with it new ways and trends. What was once regarded as taboo is now no longer seen so. The giving away of duit raya is one such trend.
Giving duit raya was not part of Hari Raya celebrations until recent times. No one probably remember when duit raya started, but it was clearly influenced by the Chinese tradition of giving ang pows.
In the Chinese community, it is a tradition to give away red packets containing cash on Chinese New Year to children. Many also give to young adults who are still single.
In the Malay community, aunties and uncles would normally give some money to their nieces and nephews when they come for Raya. Not much. Maybe a few ringgit.
Parents would also give their children to spend during the Raya period. And working children would reciprocate by giving their parents some cash to spend.
As we now see, the Malay community is slowly and steadily making the giving of duit raya as part of its Hari Raya ritual.
We see the emergence of green packets where money is put in to give away as duit raya. A new industry appears once a year.
Banks, too, prepare new notes because clients and customers rush to change old notes with new ones to be used as duit raya.
But, this giving away of duit raya has led to a new twist in Raya rounds among children. This is the “kami nak duit raya” call.
This is more seen and heard in only certain areas and neighbourhoods. The children would be invited in and they sit around while waiting for refreshments.
At this point, one of them would remark: “Pakcik, kami datang nak duit raya. Tak payah minum-minum!” (Uncle, we come for your duit raya. No need to serve refreshments).
Can you imagine that? They should sit back and enjoy the drinks before moving on to their next location. Instead, they make that remark that may floor the host.
Some hosts don’t like it. They find this rather rude. If you ask me, let’s just humour the children away. Get them to sit down, pour them drinks and offer them the kuih raya.
Then give the duit raya with a little bit of advice. Tell them duit raya is given only when they finish their drinks and eat their food. Simple.
Their parents may not know that their children do their Raya rounds like this. But you do. So, give these children a little bit of unsolicited advice. No harm really.
Such behaviour may seem too trivial to some people. But such remarks can lead to some unpleasant exchanges and, over time, can lead to outright demands. That, too, can be very “unhariraya”.
aat@pahitmanis
AHMAD A TALIB is the chairman of Yayasan Salam Malaysia