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meat curry),
Ketupat
(dumplings),
Dodol
(toffee-like confection) and
Lemang
(a
glutinous rice cake cooked in bamboo)
are staples on the serving table during
the celebration here in Malaysia. But in
Iraq for instance, dates are given utmost
significance and a dish called
Klaicha
,
which is a rose-scented cookie filled
with dates and nuts, must be prepared
by every household.
In Egypt, family gatherings involve
cooking and eating just like in Malaysia.
The difference is in the type of food
that is served. Egyptian food like
Fata
is one of them. It is a classic Egyptian
dish made with meat, rice, onions and
vinegar. As for something sweet,
Kahk
,
which are cookies filled with nuts and
covered with icing sugar, are added to
the Aidilfitri menu.
Neighbouring Indonesia has very
similar types of food prepared for Ai-
dilfitri except for a special cake called
Kue Lapis Legit. Kue Lapis Legit
is also
known as the thousand-layer cake. It
is inspired by the Dutch cuisine and is
made with flour, butter and a host of
spices. Our Muslim friends in Myanmar
also have their own dessert served on
Aidilfitri made with semolina. Semolina
is a coarse grind of high-protein durum
wheat that is used to make delicious
cakes and cookies.
The Spirit of Togetherness
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Indo-
nesia follow the custom of
mudik
or
balik kampong
(going back to one’s
hometown), for Aidilfitri. This is where
people meet their family and relatives
and ask for forgiveness. Back in the
day,
pelitas
(oil lamps) were used to
illuminate homes but they have since
been replaced with string lights. A
similar custom is followed in Turkey
where Aidilftri is celebrated as a holiday
of sweets and is popularly known as
Seker Bayrami
. Children visit relatives
and neighbours to greet them and are
gifted with sweets like Baklava and
Turkish delight as a blessing.
In Afghanistan, the spirit of together-
ness is celebrated with egg fights where
men gather in parks with hard-boiled
eggs and challege each other to crack
them.
Father and son all
dressed up for Aidilfitri
In Turkey, sweets like
baklava and Turkish
delights are given to
children who are visiting