+ Faith | Raya Shopping

Geylang Serai Hari Raya Light-up 2005 Night Bazaar

Count down to 2 days before the big Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations that falls on Thursday, 3 November 2005.

Did spring cleaning to our home, and it already is quite done-up for friends and relatives to come visiting in Syawal, but we still have not done any Raya Shopping yet for your new clothes.

This evening was the perfect time to do just that.

Off we went to Geylang Serai, the focal point of all Raya Shopping stuff you could ever need were there. It is not Hari Raya in Singapore if you have not stepped into Geylang.

Just like Orchard Road to all Christians for Christmas shopping, Little India to the Indians and Hindus for Deepavali and China Town to all Chinese for their Lunar New Year.

A short shopping list for us this year.

Just two sets of traditional Malay Baju Kurung and my wife's matching headscarf, since we already bought her the two dresses in Bangkok when we had our trip there a few months back.

Ventured out after buka puasa or break fast at 6:51pm and ended late into the night to almost midnight. Our poor son was nagging us to go back home. His "batteries" needed charging as it was way past his bedtime.

The crowd was exceptionally enormous! I had to snap some photos with my cell phone.

There are so many people mostly because it was a Saturday and the bazaar will stay open into the wee hours of Sunday morning, and partly because this will be the final year Geylang Serai will hold it ritual, Hari Raya Bazaar annually due to the government's total upgrading of its amenities, slated to start next year.

Going there was tough enough. Like a ritual, any taxi driver will always advise to go the opposite route via Paya Lebar and alight at Tanjong Katong Complex, to avoid the slow crawl traffic on the stretch of Eunos and Changi Road.

As a norm, traditional Malay Baju Kurung will be a matching family set with loud in colours (yes, for the guys too), the Malay way of reflecting family unity and cheerful celebrations, of the otherwise religious triumph over earthly passions.

This year is no exception. We bought two sets of clothes - one, a "be brave, my son" pastel orange, and the other, a "men, face your fears head-on" purplish-pink colour. All to match the colours with my wife's dresses.

Men would wear such colours on only two occasions.

One on their wedding day, and another, on Hari Raya. You will otherwise stick-out like a sore thumb if you wear it on normal days as the colours are too dramatic.

Anyway, getting there was quite alright, but going back home was arduous.

Since thousands converge almost every night at the same place for the same purpose - Raya Shopping, getting a taxi was an impossible task, as you would see families after families lining the street hailing for a cab.

I was too tired and skipped that challenge. I called a cab instead. End of story.

Now waiting for Aidilfitri.