The Malays in Pahang and Malaysia also call the festival "Hari Raya Puasa" (Day of Celebration after Fasting). Aidil Fitri marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, a month of self-purification, a month all Muslims strive to improve themselves spiritually.It is thus a celebration of victory of one’s will-power over the inner urges of worldly comforts and sins of behavior and conduct. The night ofAidil Fitri will be filled with the alluring chantings of the "Takbir" (Praises to Allah) until the next day of Aidil Fitriprayers. It is common for congregations in mosques and surau (musollahs) to go round the neighborhood singing the Takbir praise Allah for successfully completing the Ramadan fast. And during AidilFitri, and throughout the month of Shawal, Malaysians wish their Muslim friends "Selamat Hari Raya".

MORNING OF AIDIL FITRI

The day starts in the early dawn when my mother wake up at about 5.00 am to do her "Subuh" or dawn prayers. She also wakes up the other family members for the prayers.

After her prayers, it’s time she does her scheduled chores for the morning, helped by the children. Switching on the radio, the Takbir and joyful Hari Raya songs will be heard, providing the soothing back-ground music, so chores are happily carried out.

Among others, the traditional kueh and pastries are put into glass containers and arranged on the table, with the kettle of tea and coffee or jugs of soft drinks also prepared for visitors.

My mother will also start warming up the rendang and the kuah kacang(satay sauce), the gravy for the nasi himpit, the family’s main dish for this year’s Hari Raya. The nasi himpit, chicken rendang and gravy have already been cook.

Every year my mother alternates between nasi himpit and ketupat as our main dish for the Hari Raya, although once a while she would cook nasi tomato.

After the morning bath and the dawn prayers, we will all put on our new clothes of traditonal Malay Costume, the baju Melayu and baju Kurung and baju Kebaya.

Afterwards a little breakfast is taken, since it is advisable to eat as a symbol or gesture that Ramadan or the fasting month is over.

AIDIL FITRI PRAYERS

And after the little breakfast, it’s time to go to the mosque for theAidil Fitri prayers which starts at 8.30 am. Usually i go with my family in the car to the main Muadzam State Mosque in the middle of Muadzam city. But if I felt we won’t be on time, then I will just take them to the nearby mosque.

FORGIVENESS AND PARDON

After Aidil Fitri prayers, back home, there will usually be another round of light eating, to reserve our tummies for the visits later.

By this time too, all other members of the family, about thirty of them, will be at our home congregating for the activities to follow also a perfect time to take group family photos.

Then it’s time for salam and asking for forgiveness, starting with the patriarch and elders and then with other family members. The younger ones will hold and kiss the hands ("salam") of the elders.

Aidil Fitri is always a perfect time, when all are present, to ask for forgiveness from family members, relatives and friends, for wrongdoings, if any, whether done knowingly or unknowingly.

For the children this "salam" is the time that they anxiously look forward to because with the handshaking, they will be given small tokens of cash known as "duit raya" . Nowadays the duit raya is put into an envelope as an "ang pow" following the Chinese New Year tradition.

Working adults are extra generous on this day, so children can expect to collect substantial amounts when they go round visiting relatives, neighbors and friends.