RAMADAN has always been a special month, especially if you are a kid and fasting.
As a child growing up in a close-knit society in Bayan Lepas, Penang, and Kuala Kubu Baru, Ulu Selangor, this was the month I could savour the best dishes in the neighbourhood.
The tradition of sending delicacies or dishes to neighbours right after your mum was done cooking was common those days. My mum would send my sisters or me to neighbours’ homes with a plate of mee goreng or a bowl of piping hot pengat pisang.
Back then, I hated the chore of sending kuih or other delicacies, especially when it was almost dark, and I feared I would miss the breaking of fast at home. What was worse was if I had to carry soup, broth or something with gravy. I would have to walk slowly to prevent spilling it.
Can you imagine the time it would take a boy of 8 or 9 years old to walk steadily while holding a bowl of hot bubur kacang? It was horrible if the neighbour returned the favour by giving a bowl of mee rebus. The walk back home would be painful.
Looking back, I miss the tradition of exchanging food with neighbours. The tradition is dying, even in the kampung. I don’t think urbanites practise this tradition. We have become snobs — we do not care about our neighbours.
Those days, we were not “plagued” by Ramadan bazaars or all-you-can-eat buffets in hotels and restaurants.
Imagine the money you could save from not giving in to impulsive purchases at bazaars if you exchange food with your neighbours.
But don’t expect all of them to return the favour! Maybe
they were not expecting your child, smiling with a missing tooth, to show up with a plate of karipap or lepat pisang at their doorstep.
The tradition of sending food to your neighbours is spiritually important especially during this fasting month. If you give food to those who are fasting, even a small portion of kurma, you will be hugely rewarded by God.
So let’s revive this neighbourly tradition by giving your neighbours dishes or delicacies you cooked for buka puasa. And please, do send your son or daughter, who may be missing a tooth, to your neighbours with the food.