GEORGE TOWN: Although Hari Raya Aidilfitri is still about two weeks away, many Muslims have started shopping for the big day, focusing on a balik kampung theme after two years of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among them are housewife Noortom Zakaria, 54, and her daughter Nurul Syuhaidah Yazis, 18, who are eager to return to Noortom’s hometown of Sungai Petani, Kedah, for Hari Raya.
“This year, we will celebrate Hari Raya in Sungai Petani after two years of not being able to do so,” she said in an interview.
Noortom said she plans to prepare her must-have beef rendang with ketupat or lemang to share with her loved ones at their home in Kampung Makam.
Nurul Syuhaidah, who just completed her SPM, said she and her family did their Hari Raya shopping early to avoid the last-minute rush.
“Doing it early will keep us from spending too much.
“We had time to find new clothes at reasonable prices for Hari Raya,” she added.
While she is looking forward to reuniting with her relatives, she said everyone has been reminding each other to observe Covid-19 precautions.
Civil servant Mahfuzah Ahmad Jalaludin, 37, said she chose to get tailored clothing for her children to cut down on the need to go to shopping malls.
“Normally, we would go to a boutique or the shopping mall.
“But due to public health concerns, I found a tailor to make all our clothes for Hari Raya,” she said.
Mahfuzah said this year, her family will make a trip back to Perak to celebrate Hari Raya with her parents.
She said among the favourite delicacies that are a must for her family during the celebration is beef rendang, which she will buy for her parents.
“I hope this year we will be free of the Covid-19 threat and can celebrate the festival safely,” she added.
Baju kurung trader Intan Shafira Abdullah, 31, said sales at her shop in Komtar are much better than last year.
She believes that this is due to the easing of movement restrictions.
“This year is better, and we expect our sales to increase in these two weeks,” she added.