Growing up, our national television station would broadcast the imam at Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque beating the beduk (traditional musical instrument) to signal the start of sungkai (breaking of the fast).
As a child, it was something to look forward to every day, making the holy month of Ramadhan that much more interesting. I was trying to explain it to my child recently and he just stared at me, puzzled. It must sound like such a foreign concept to him.
A part of me feels sad over the disappearance of what seemed to me a Ramadhan tradition. I sincerely hope that the authorities would consider re-introducing the ritual as I feel it is a unique aspect of our culture that needs to be preserved for the young generation.
Nostalgic Mum
