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The first day of the Islamic New Year is a national holiday in Malaysia, but it usually passes unremarked. This year, the State Mosque decided to host a day of activities on the grounds around the mosque. It was grand: there was a marathon, sports competitions, a bazaar, a stage with silat, traditional dance and nasheed presentations, a portable planetarium-in-a-tent, and of course food food food. The highlight for my children was the exotic animal tent, where a pet store had pythons, horned lizards, skinks and lemurs on display … or on your shoulders!
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You’re so lucky to have such celebrations, it seems to have been a great day, where I live it is just unnoticed by all of us and when we do notice it’s AH we’re like oh ok, we never prepare anything to celebrate, inchallah I’ll make that up with my children. Malaysia seems to be great by the way.
I find that while it is easier to remember the holidays here, it is a greater struggle to keep them sacred. May Allah make it easier for both of us.