Tonight, for the first time in their lives, my kids might be going to Geylang Serai - port of call for Malay Muslims - to soak in the ambience of the chaotic (and oft-times, smelly because it's so crowded!) Hari Raya festivities. I say might be going because that's the plan the husband and I have for us tonight although I am currently crampy and sometimes cranky and might just decide against it. Because of that risk factor, the kids have not been told. So it's a maybe perhaps kind of deal right now.
Not too crazy about the crowd, but a part of me think I should expose my kids to the festivities.
I am also not too crazy about news that billed the lighting up of Geylang Serai as a tribute to Ramadhan. Hmmm... like how are those lights a tribute to Ramadhan when Ramadhan is a time for self reflection, getting closer to Allah, for increasing ibadah? Unless of course someone found something that says we need to have glittery lights in that Malay enclave to announce the arrival of Ramadhan. But hey, whatevs. You can't fight widespread consumerism.
This is also partly the reason why I hesitate to bring my kids there all these years. Last thing I want them to do is associate Ramadhan with gory lights and insane shopping. Which is also why we buy our stuff before Ramadhan. Because shopping during Ramadhan is a sport.
Did I also mention I'm not too crazy about the crowd?
2 comments:
Salaam,
Was blog surfing and ended up here. I love your tongue-in-cheek write-ups. The serious ones, too. Found myself bookmarking your blog just to see what you have been up to. *hehe*
Salaam perkenalan.
Yours truly,
Triomommy
Salam to you, too and welcome!
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