Ramadan has just come to an end and we have been seeing Kuantan decorations change from the many Malaysian and Pahang flags for Merdeka to the many green and yellow lanterns symbolising Hari Raya. The kids have come home from school with painted pelintas which are basically oil candles used to decorate the home and add light to the festivities. For the actual close of Hari Raya the nation gets on the road and heads home to their families kampungs. This is similar to the craze of Chinese New Year or TET yet somehow very different as most Malays have cars so the train and bus stations aren't jam packed although the government puts pleas out there for people to use public transport. It's almost like Easter Thursday traffic, bumper to bumper with radio reports advising people not to leave home due to complete stand stills in some areas.
Some things I didn't know before this Ramadan.
1. Muslims break fast with dates. It's a quick sugar fix to give them energy to be able to digest the big meal they are about to eat.
2. More chickens are sold during the month of Ramadan than any other month in Malaysia.
3. The green and yellow lanterns represent the food ketupat which are basically rice dumplings wrapped in banana leaves to preserve them. They are eaten with dipping sauces.
