Hari Raya Aidil Fitri
Naveed Ahmad Khan Photo By Raja Farid
Hari Raya Aidil Fitri/Eid al-Fitr the most important festival in Malaysia is the Islamic New Year celebrations of Eid al-Fitr, or as it is known in Malay, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.
It is customary for some Muslim families to host ‘rumah buka’ or ‘open house’, where they welcome neighbours and members of the community into their house to join in the celebrations where one can enjoy festive food such as curry chicken, beef rendang , chicken satay, ketupat, lemang, rose syrup, cakes, cookies, and tarts.
On the 19th of April 2024, the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan,Ambassador Mohammad Azhar Mazlan and spouse, Madam Amelia Amani Azhar hosted an Eid-Ul-Fitr Open House at the Malaysian High Commission. The invited guests represented a cross section of the society from the diplomatic corps, senior government officials, Pakistani captains of industry, friends of the media as well as the Malaysian diaspora were among those present to celebrate the joyous occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr.
Donning their national customes, the host-hostess with his team and families at the High Commission welcomed the guests with renowned Malaysian Hospitality. The guests were served with a delightful array of traditional Malaysian and Pakistani cuisines such as mee goreng, mutton curry, nasi goreng, satay with peanut sauce and traditional Eid cookies.
Such a gathering reflects the true spirit of friendship and peaceful co-existence amongst nations especially with the host nation, Pakistan. Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Azhar underscored the importance of cultural understanding and mutual respect in strengthening bilateral ties, emphasizing the commonalities and traditions that bind the people of Malaysia and Pakistan.
In his remarks, Ambassador Azhar expressed gratitude to the guests for joining in the celebration and reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to advancing cooperation with Pakistan in various fields, including trade, investment, education, and tourism, among others. Considering the candid remarks and feedback from those present, the gathering was a success, exemplifying the strong brotherly ties and cooperation between Malaysia and Pakistan.
