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Hari Raya Puasa

Singapore Hari Raya PuasaHari Raya Puasa is one of the most significant celebrations for Muslims. It marks the culmination of Ramadan, a month-long fasting period and a time for abstinence, reflection and worship.

Prayers followed by a thanks-giving feasts are held in mosques on the morning of the occasion. It is a time of forgiveness within

the Muslim community and a time for strengthening of bonds amongst relatives and friends. New clothes, decorated houses and exchange of invitations between friends and relatives commemorate Hari Raya Puasa. Children salam (greet) their parents on the morning of Hari Raya Puasa and ask for forgiveness and blessings.

The celebration of the festival extends to a month where importance is placed on the first three days. During the three days Muslim homes have an "open house" policy where friends and relatives visit.

On Hari Raya Puasa the Malays in Singapore have a lavish spread of all sorts of food over their dinning table. They would have specialities such as beef rendang (a spicy dish of beef that is like a dry curry), ketupat (rice cake wrapped in coconut leaf) and lontong (rice cake immersed in coconut gravy). Along with these would be cookies cakes and pineapple tarts. Amongst the Indian Muslims such as the Pakistanis, Khojas and Dawoodi Bohras the dinning tables would be laden with spreads of curries, biryani (savoury rice cooked with meat or chicken ) and dates cooked in milk.

The Malays would greet each other with Selamat Hari Raya, which means "happy day of joy" and the Indian Muslims would say Eid Mubarak, meaning "blessings of the holy day".