Eid (Hari Raya Aidil Fitri)

With ethnic Malays constituting more than half of the population, the most prominent event in Malaysia is the Islamic New Year celebrations of Eid al-Fitr, or as it is known in Malay, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.

Hari Raya celebrates the completion of the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, also known as Ramadhan, and thus marks the end of a month of fasting from dawn to sunset. In Malaysia, it is a two-day national holiday, and many families return to their hometowns to celebrate with their extended family.

Some Muslim households hold 'rumah buka,' or 'open houses,' where they invite neighbors and members of the community into their homes to share in the festivities, which include celebratory foods such as curry chicken, beef rendang, chicken satay, ketupat, lemang, rose syrup, cakes, cookies, and tarts.

The streets of big cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Jakarta are generally decked in amazing decorations that are brightly lit at night during Eid celebrations.