Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

In Singapore and Malaysia, Eid is more commonly known as "Hari Raya Aidilfitri", "Hari Raya Idul Fitri" or "Hari Raya Puasa".

Puasa means “Fasting”, basically refer to the fasting month (Ramadhan) preceding the Idul Fitri.

It is common to greet Malay/Muslim colleages and friends with "Selamat Hari Raya" or on "Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri" on Hari Raya holiday, In Singapore this yeare, it is today, 30 Aug 2011.

The usual greeting during Aidilfitri is “Selamat Hari Raya”, which means “Wishing you a joyous Hari Raya”. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the twenty nine or thirty days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan.

This year, "Hari Raya" gives me a chance to learn something new, and appreciate the spirit of Singaporean "as one united people" in our pledge!

It all starts with my friend's operation being postponed after Hari Raya and the reason given by the doctor in hospital is:

"Our National Blood Bank is depleted in the fasting month!"

August is "Puasa" and so Muslims are not donating blood. Hence, our blood bank is running low as our Muslim group are our main blood donors!

Selamat Hari Raya!

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!

It is the first time I joys with Muslim group with this new understanding and cheers for this Holiday with appreciation of their kind practice. (Other years, I may visit and greet them with the main activities centred on tasting and eating Muslim food and cookies.)

This Hari Raya also reminds me to do something similar in my agenda!

I think it is a way of sharing "regardless of race, language or religion!" Anyone in needs of blood in any operation in hospital will have the blessing of many anonymous Singaporean!

By the way, if you are thinking of donationg blood after reading this post, here is the opening hours of the blood bank:

http://www.hsa.gov.sg/publish/hsaportal/en/health_services/blood_donation/location.html#openinghours

Selamat Hari Raya!

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!

Holiday is "Holy Day" and it is a ture holy day today for me to understand the Holy Spirit of our Muslim Friends!

Cheers!

Dexterine Ho