Work Constraints, Family Commitments Keep Raya Haji Celebrations Modest This Year
From newlyweds to working parents, many Malaysians are embracing a quieter Aidiladha shaped by duty, distance and devotion.
- Busy work schedules and family commitments have led many young couples to celebrate Hari Raya Haji modestly this year.
- Retail manager Muhammad Amir Ridhwan, 28, kept celebrations simple due to limited leave and existing family plans.
- Amir Ridhwan and his newlywed wife Natasha Amiera both have parents in Kuantan, reducing the need for travel.
- Overlapping family events, including a sibling's engagement and a brother's wedding, tightened the couple's festive budget.
- Property sales agent Mohd Saiful, 45, is keeping celebrations low-key as his wife will be working on Wednesday.
- Mohd Saiful and his wife Nurul Aida plan to stay in Kuantan rather than travel for Aidiladha.
- Technician Muhammad Anas, 42, received no leave but plans to join his family in Damansara after his shift.
- Despite not being on leave, Muhammad Anas spent over RM200 on groceries, saying "Raya is still Raya."
- Muslims across the country are celebrating Aidiladha this Wednesday, the second biggest celebration in the Islamic calendar.
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Busy work schedules and family responsibilities have led to a rather low-key Hari Raya Haji celebration this year for many young couples, including Muhammad Amir Ridhwan Noorizam, 28, a retail industry manager.
Amir Ridhwan said limited leave arrangements, coupled with family commitment, meant celebrations were kept simple and centred around immediate family gatherings.
“For now, we mainly follow our families’ plans. Both sides of the family are quite close,” the newly-wed husband told TRP when met today.
Amir Ridhwan, who recently married his partner Natasha Amiera Adnan, 29, an executive based in Kuantan, said he considers himself fortunate to have married someone from the same hometown as his family.
He added that with both sets of parents residing in Kuantan, there is no need for extensive travel or complicated arrangements, with festive plans largely shaped by existing family commitments, especially as they are still newlyweds.
“So in terms of raya preparations, we just go with whichever family gathering is happening,” he added.
Amir Ridhwan also said that his current work commitments played a major role in limiting plans for this year’s celebration, despite the long holidays.
“We’re quite tied up with work. When work is busy, there just isn’t time to plan long leave,” he said.
He also added that overlapping family commitments and financial considerations make them celebrate Aidiladha modestly this year.
“My wife’s sibling just got engaged and also my younger brother is getting married at the end of the month. So the budget to travel back to Kelantan, where my in-laws are from, is a bit tight.”
For property sales agent Mohd Saiful Mohamed Yusof, 45, this year’s Aidiladha celebration was also kept simple, as his wife will be working this Wednesday.
“You should have interviewed me during Aidilfitri. That was when the celebration with my wife was more lively.
“That was actually the first time I went back to celebrate at my wife’s hometown in Terengganu. The celebration was much more festive then,” he told TRP.
Mohd Saiful, who has been married for only a few months to his partner Nurul Aida Taha, 36, shares a common interest with his wife in cooking.
However, for this Aidiladha, he said they would remain in Kuantan and not travel anywhere.
“Since we’re just staying in Kuantan and not going anywhere, I think I’ll probably just sleep after the Aidiladha prayers,” he said with a chuckle.
Meanwhile, father of three Muhammad Anas Abdul Malik, 42, a technician, said he did not get any leave this year but plans to bring his family back to his parents’ home in Damansara, Kuantan, after completing his shift on Wednesday.
When asked, he said that although the celebration would not be grand, he had still made preparations by buying fresh groceries for his family.
“I’ve already bought chicken, beef, vegetables… I spent over RM200 for the Raya preparations. Even though I’m not on leave, Raya is still Raya,” he said.
Muslims will be celebrating Aidiladha this Wednesday, the second biggest celebration in the Islamic calendar.
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