It is incredible how one festival having the same significance for everyone; is observed in different ways all over the globe. Since people are unique, their ways of celebrating a day are also different. Thus, offering you the chance to explore those Hari Raya celebrations around the world to implement them in yours.
While the crux of Eid and the main customs are similar amongst all Muslims, some rituals make them stand out. So, let's find out how Hari Raya around the world is observed.
Singapore
Starting with Hari Raya in Singapore, the most common activities witnessed before the festival are cleaning, arranging, and redecorating things in the house. With e-bazaars and special halal delivery by food outlets, the Singaporeans (Muslims and non-Muslims) have everything set up in time. All they do on the d-day is have a good time!
Indonesia
Ramadan celebrations in Indonesia, also locally known as Lebaran, revolve mainly around giving and receiving kindness. The amount of charity work and donations increase manifold in Indonesia during Hari Raya. On the other hand, children await their salam tempel (crisp new notes) from the elders, and companies usually give bonuses to their employees.
Egypt
Let's talk about the unique Hari Raya foods. In Egypt, every household begins baking lip-smacking biscuits called kahk. It is a family tradition in which every member takes turns kneading and cutting the dough, stuffing them with dates, honey, nuts and lastly decorating them before the oven does its magic. While some follow the traditional recipe, others have engineered new ways, thus making it a must-have Hari Raya food in each Egyptian household.
Dubai
With so many unique ways to celebrate Hari Raya around the world; Dubai stands out for its coffee, locally called gahwa. Spices like clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom are the cause of the coffee's rich flavour. It gels perfectly with different flavoured dates and pastries, thus making it a lovely snack for your guests and yourself.
Turkey
When it comes to Hari Raya food and beverages, Turkey is always at the top. Their three-day Ramadan celebration is known as Seker Bayram or Candy festival. As the children honour the elders in the family, they are gifted traditional homemade pastries like baklavas that only double their joy.
Bosnia
Did you know that Bosnia had a national dessert? Well, not officially, but the locals consider the tufahija their national dessert that is consumed all year around. However, come Ramadan celebrations and their apple-based dessert, dipped in sugar syrup and stuffed with walnuts, becomes quite the craze. This particular Hari Raya food or sweet dish makes the ideal complement to the bitter Bosnian coffee.
India
India is home to many Muslims who open their hearts and wallets during Hari Raya celebrations. Men, women, and children take the festival up a notch by dressing in the trendiest and brightest outfits. The ladies all over the country even don their hands with Mehendi, also known as Henna.
In Kashmir, after the morning prayers, people indulge in sweet treats and a locally brewed green tea; called kahwah. The aromatic blend of spices like cinnamon, saffron, cardamom, and cloves with milk and dried fruits; make it one of the top Hari Raya food and beverages.
China
The Yunnan province in China has over a million Muslims who mark the end of Ramadan celebrations by reading the Quran surahs for the deceased. They also offer prayers to Sayyid Ajjal, the first governor of Yunnan province, who promoted Islam and many more religions.
Malaysia
The beauty of Hari Raya celebrations in Malaysia lies in their 80+ year tradition of songs. Since the first Aidilfitri song's feature in 1936, many more renditions have developed with upbeat and catchy tunes.
Saudi Arabia
On Eid, Saudi Arabians are the most beautifully decked people. Men and women proudly dress in their traditional attires. The men don an ankle-length white cotton shirt (thawb) and a headcover (kaffiyeh). The women wear a hijab that covers them from head to toe, but with the fashion world's interference, their hijabs have delicate handiwork.
With this detailed information on the unique ways people observe Hari Raya around the world, you can bring a foreign essence to your celebration.
Gurnika Talwar is FNP’s marketing and creative content writer and has been with the firm since 2020. She is based in Delhi, India and has been in this field for 2+ years.
She started her journey as a freshman but since then has created content on several mediums. With blogging on gift ideas, food, gardening tips and whatnot as her primary goal, she has also curated content for social media and brand films. As a storyteller, she creates original, genuine, and relatable content to connect with the mass. Besides work, you’ll find her chit-chatting about movies or making sarcastic jokes.
Starting with Hari Raya in Singapore, the most common activities witnessed before the festival are cleaning, arranging, and redecorating things in the house. With e-bazaars and special halal delivery by food outlets, the Singaporeans (Muslims and non-Muslims) have everything set up in time. All they do on the d-day is have a good time!
Ramadan celebrations in Indonesia, also locally known as Lebaran, revolve mainly around giving and receiving kindness. The amount of charity work and donations increase manifold in Indonesia during Hari Raya. On the other hand, children await their salam tempel (crisp new notes) from the elders, and companies usually give bonuses to their employees.
Let's talk about the unique Hari Raya foods. In Egypt, every household begins baking lip-smacking biscuits called kahk. It is a family tradition in which every member takes turns kneading and cutting the dough, stuffing them with dates, honey, nuts and lastly decorating them before the oven does its magic. While some follow the traditional recipe, others have engineered new ways, thus making it a must-have Hari Raya food in each Egyptian household.
With so many unique ways to celebrate Hari Raya around the world; Dubai stands out for its coffee, locally called gahwa. Spices like clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom are the cause of the coffee's rich flavour. It gels perfectly with different flavoured dates and pastries, thus making it a lovely snack for your guests and yourself.
When it comes to Hari Raya food and beverages, Turkey is always at the top. Their three-day Ramadan celebration is known as Seker Bayram or Candy festival. As the children honour the elders in the family, they are gifted traditional homemade pastries like baklavas that only double their joy.
Did you know that Bosnia had a national dessert? Well, not officially, but the locals consider the tufahija their national dessert that is consumed all year around. However, come Ramadan celebrations and their apple-based dessert, dipped in sugar syrup and stuffed with walnuts, becomes quite the craze. This particular Hari Raya food or sweet dish makes the ideal complement to the bitter Bosnian coffee.
India is home to many Muslims who open their hearts and wallets during Hari Raya celebrations. Men, women, and children take the festival up a notch by dressing in the trendiest and brightest outfits. The ladies all over the country even don their hands with Mehendi, also known as Henna.
In Kashmir, after the morning prayers, people indulge in sweet treats and a locally brewed green tea; called kahwah. The aromatic blend of spices like cinnamon, saffron, cardamom, and cloves with milk and dried fruits; make it one of the top Hari Raya food and beverages.
The Yunnan province in China has over a million Muslims who mark the end of Ramadan celebrations by reading the Quran surahs for the deceased. They also offer prayers to Sayyid Ajjal, the first governor of Yunnan province, who promoted Islam and many more religions.
The beauty of Hari Raya celebrations in Malaysia lies in their 80+ year tradition of songs. Since the first Aidilfitri song's feature in 1936, many more renditions have developed with upbeat and catchy tunes.
On Eid, Saudi Arabians are the most beautifully decked people. Men and women proudly dress in their traditional attires. The men don an ankle-length white cotton shirt (thawb) and a headcover (kaffiyeh). The women wear a hijab that covers them from head to toe, but with the fashion world's interference, their hijabs have delicate handiwork.
With this detailed information on the unique ways people observe Hari Raya around the world, you can bring a foreign essence to your celebration. 
