A Tapestry of Light: Celebrating Lebaran Across ASEAN Countries

TIMESINDONESIA, JAKARTA – Imagine a vast night sky, a tapestry woven with countless stars. Each star represents a nation within the ASEAN constellation that shines with its own unique brilliance. During the joyous celebration of Lebaran (known as Eid al-Fitr), these diverse nations come together in a harmonious dance, united by festivity, forgiveness, and renewal in our ASEAN galaxy. 

Indonesia, as the largest star, radiates warmth like a benevolent sun. Families gather, seeking forgiveness and embracing kinship, much like solar flares erupting with love. Mosques become celestial observatories, echoing with prayers that resonate across the archipelago. Traditional dishes like ketupat, opor ayam, and rendang become constellations on the Lebaran feast, a delicious reminder of shared traditions.

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Malaysia, our crescent moon, reflects a delicate balance between the old and the new. During Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, minarets illuminate the night sky, adorned like lunar crescents reaching towards the heavens. Malaysians visit ancestral graves, their footsteps like whispers through time, connecting generations. The air carries the aroma of lemang, rendang, and ketupat, celestial offerings to both ancestors and guests, a symbol of respect and remembrance.

Just like the evening star, Brunei shines with quiet elegance. Here, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri graces the nation like a gentle twilight. Families gather in celestial harmony, seeking solace in shared memories and the tranquility of forgiveness that flows like a peaceful river. Ambuyat, nasi katok, and daging masak lada hitam on their tables become symbols of unity, reminding us that even the smallest stars can hold immense warmth.

Singapore with Hari Raya Puasa might be considered as a vibrant cluster of stars. This ASEAN member country dazzles with multicultural brilliance. Hari Raya Puasa transcends ethnic boundaries, uniting Malays, Chinese, Indians, and everyone in between. The city-state's skyline transforms into a celestial canvas, painted with the vibrant hues of satay, lontong, and ayam masak merah. Here, diversity dances in the cosmos, a testament to the strength found in unity.

From Singapore, flying over Malaysia, Thailand is the destination. This country can be concluded as a distant star in our southern constellation with a resilient Muslim minority. Their mosques echo with prayers, and the aroma of Thai-Muslim dishes like kao mok gai (Thai biryani) evokes memories passed down through generations. 

Meanwhile, the Philippine Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) adds its unique light to the Lebaran symphony, reminding us that even the most distant stars contribute to the overall brilliance. In this vibrant culinary symphony, the Philippine Lebaran dishes play their part such as inasal na manok, tortang talong or Bulalô.

Let’s delve into the celestial tapestry woven by the Muslim communities in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. These smaller yet radiant nebulae illuminate the night sky with their unique traditions and heartfelt celebrations.

In the heart of Vietnam, the Ramadan Bajram festivities unfold like a comet streaking across the heavens. Vietnamese Muslims gather in mosques, their voices rising in harmonious supplication. The air is infused with the aroma of spiced rice, kebabs, and sweet pastries. Families reunite, bridging distances that span galaxies. 

As the crescent moon graces the horizon, the faithful break their fast, sharing dates and water. The Iftar table overflows with love, laughter, and gratitude. In this cosmic dance of devotion, the Vietnamese Muslim community reminds us that even a single star can guide lost souls toward hope.

Laos and Cambodia, our celestial nebulae, host smaller but equally luminous Muslim communities.

Ramadan Bajram in Vietnam, Lebaran Haji in Laos, and Chol Chnam Thmey in Cambodia create ripples of celebration that shimmer across the night sky. These communities echo with prayers, share traditional dishes, and embrace the warmth of family bonds, proving that even the faintest light can contribute to the beauty of the cosmic tapestry.

As Lebaran approaches, a sense of celestial synchrony unites the ASEAN stars. Forgiveness orbits like planets around a shared center, and the feast becomes a cosmic banquet for all. Let us lift our eyes and appreciate the beauty of this celestial dance, a reminder that in unity, we find our truest constellation. (*)

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