It is a well known fact that Malaysian people celebrate differently compared to other countries that celebrates this festivity. Aidilfitri is celebrated for the whole month of Syawal here in but only the first two days is observed as public holidays.

Normally, a week before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, most of town’s dweller leave town to go back to their ‘kampung’ (hometown) to celebrate the Hari Raya Aidilfitri with their parents, siblings, relatives and friends.  This is like a ritual that children for those who are stay away from the family must be in their parents’ house on the Aidilfitri.  Thus, cities like get relatively quiet during the festive season of Aidilfitri. Town’s dwellers need to go back early for Hari Raya so that they can prepare some special for Hari Raya like lemang, ketupat, rendang and traditional like dodol. This kind of need prepare early since it’s took time to cook and the family will cook together like ‘gotong royong’.

For the first day of Hari Raya, after praying of -Fitri, the family members will visit to the graveyard where deceased loved ones are remembered and make doa for them.  At home, the family members will asking for pardon and this is also the time to forgive and forget the past mistake. The younger members of a family will ‘salam’(handshake) and kiss the hands of the older person as a sign of respect. Children are given ‘duit raya’(gift of money) in small envelopes.

After a week in the ‘Kampung’, town’s dweller start returned to their home in the cities. The following three weeks will still be considered as Aidilfitri celebration.  This is the time that town’s dwellers hold the ‘open house’ throughout the month till the end of Syawal month. They will invite friends, family, relatives, neighbors, staffs and clients to their house to celebrate. Not even at home, they also organized ‘open house’ in the office, government, company and organizations. They serve many kind of foods either buffet or potluck.

This concept of ‘open house’ is to allow us to invite our friends not only for Muslim but non-Muslim also are invited. We take this opportunity to seek forgiveness what we had done among us.

On the last few years, took this opportunity hold the ‘open house’ in the office. The other organizations like PERKIM, PENGASIH, ABIM Outreach, PNMB, YPEIM etc. invite us to joint their open house. Open house in Malaysia are very much encouraged as it can serve more good relationship and brotherhood in .