I am going to write today a little bit about two different experiences related to the malaysian culture, the Hari Raya and the indian wedding, that I could live during my first weeks in Kuala Lumpur.
Hari Raya (October 15) is a muslim celebration to mark the end of Ramadhan, the month of fasting. For muslims, it is a time of joy and victory or self-restraint and abstinence, and it symbolizes purification and renewal.
It is a time to visit relatives in their hometowns, enjoy with the family, at the same time it is said this is also a time to forgive and forget past quarrels. The younger members of a family approach their elders to seek forgiveness, handshaking and then kiss the hands of the older person as a sign of respect.
Younger children can also get what they call "duit raia", gifts or money in small enveloppes. In this sense its similar to the chinese culture, "ang pow" (紅 包, 紅=red and 包=enveloppe) and japanese otoshidama-bukuro(お年玉袋) that are given on new years day.
Sergio and I were very lucky to be able to spend this special day for muslims with a muslim family. One of our friends offered to take us there and we just couldnt say No! cause we really want to learn about the cultural things in Malaysia.
We were taken to a muslim house and we had a very nice lunch and cookies there, could see how they decorated the house, the atmosphere of joy all family being together... it was a really nice experience!
I was surprised because generally speaking, in Spain it is difficult to get into the muslim culture. It is something not so many people is usually interested in, since they are of course not a majority. Here in Malaysia, muslims are certainly everywhere and I find their culture quite interesting. I am happy the day I go back to Spain I can tell more of how they live and how friendly they are everywhere...!!
Similar thing happen in Spain about indians, its culture is quite unknown, and to experience an indian wedding with ritual was also a good thing to learn. This time, the staff at the embassy was invited to the wedding, and the ritual was quite nice to see. The priest comes and bless the young couple, cleaning their spirit with purified smoke and offering them many gifts as the relatives greet them by turns. The music is also typical indian and the priest prays a lot during the ritual to wish them prosperity.
What was surprising for me was to see that we were almost the first guests to arrive to the ceremony. The priest started it even there was still nobody attending it! The date was at 5pm, but not any guests there.
Similar thing happen in Spain about indians, its culture is quite unknown, and to experience an indian wedding with ritual was also a good thing to learn. This time, the staff at the embassy was invited to the wedding, and the ritual was quite nice to see. The priest comes and bless the young couple, cleaning their spirit with purified smoke and offering them many gifts as the relatives greet them by turns. The music is also typical indian and the priest prays a lot during the ritual to wish them prosperity.
What was surprising for me was to see that we were almost the first guests to arrive to the ceremony. The priest started it even there was still nobody attending it! The date was at 5pm, but not any guests there.
Then by 5.45 to 6pm, guests start coming in and ordering foods. As soon as the foods were over, everybody left!
It would seem that they didnt really care for the wedding or the ritual, but mostly for food only.
If you would do so in Spain, surely family members and friends would complain.
I feel in Spain people likes to attend all the process of the wedding, since the couple enters in the church until the very last drink or dance after a family and friends dinner altogether.
But in this wedding I felt the guests mostly cared about coming and eat, because they were late joining the ceremony and as soon as the foods finished, most of them left even the ceremony
was still going on. I wonder its the Malaysian style to celebrate weddings or simply the indian culture?!
Whatever, I could enjoy the whole process and liked the music, the atmosphere, to see the families very pretty well dressed... and of course the food too!
Whatever, I could enjoy the whole process and liked the music, the atmosphere, to see the families very pretty well dressed... and of course the food too!
With the wedding and Thaipusam, indian culture seems a bit more familiar to me than what it was in Spain. I am even liking indian food! Lucky to experience!
