28/04/2026
Bersempena MCCH Raya 2026, anak-anak MCCH dijemput menulis tentang pengalaman raya mereka.
Pemenang tempat ketiga, adik Alif Irfan menceritakan tentang 'double life'. 🤔🦸🏻
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The experience of Hari Raya in such a country that doesn’t really encompass it just
feels… different. But in a good way. It’s the feeling of bringing a long tradition of a
variety of customs and heritage to a nation that really doesn’t know anything of it. It’s
the feeling of pride and delight when celebrating SO far from home, yet feeling the
little familiarity of home when visiting friends and family in open houses that stay
open till late… It’s the humming to tunes of Siti Nurhaliza and KRU but having no
idea what the words mean, the long stomach upset everyone seems to get after
having food from multiple open houses and multiple plates… It’s the occasional
different day of celebration to back home, when we celebrate a day late or a day
early…
…but, it’s also the feeling of connection. That long-distance connection to home
traditions, that without experiencing any of it, we wouldn’t know how it truly feels to
have a REAL Hari Raya. The close-knit community, especially during Raya, that has
been created over the span of 10 years in this city alone - that’s what I believe is,
and has been, one of the key factors that have made me feel even more belonging
to our nation than what I already had. Celebrations like Raya do this really well - our
community preserves our culture closely, while that unity becomes our strength.
And it’s not just this! As aforementioned, although it feels so strange to bring cultural
traditions that feel so close to us from our home, to here in the UK, it somehow just…
fits. We bring our food and our communal feeling to where we need it most. While it’s
the balancing of this identity of being Malaysian and enjoying celebrations such as
this, with a culture such as the UK, calling up the schools to declare a ‘religious
holiday’, it’s also that ‘double life’ - experiencing two cultures of the UK and Malaysia,
makes who we are more authentic and genuine - indulging into two almost
completely alternate ways of life. Then, there’s that… conflicted feeling. Whether to
be afraid or scared of being judged for wearing that traditional Baju Raya out in
public, or rather, be more proud and embracing of our own identity, instead of
shoving it down and hiding it.
Regardless - the feeling is unbeatable. That ambience of chatter bouncing across
the room as the sun peeks through the windows, shining over the pots and pans
brewing on the hobs. The children running around, swerving after every chair, then
getting dirty in the garden. It’s wholesome. That initial greeting of
“Assalamualaikum!”, “Selamat Hari Raya!” and “Sila makan!” - there’s nothing better.
It’s really... something to hold onto, as part of our identity, even though we are…
thousands of miles from home.
Along with the strong patriotism, fueled by nostalgic memories and missing our home
country, it is the perfect mixture for reminiscing during these occasions - just as that
bittersweet sentiment hits.
That’s Raya.
