The first few days of the festivities with family members are the highlight of the Hari Raya celebration but for some this is not possible as duty calls.
Some of these individuals attached to the government and private sector include uniformed personnel, media personnel and hoteliers among others, who missed the first day of Raya celebration with their family members.
Siti Norhamizah binti Mohd Soffian from RTB who was on duty assignment at Istana Nurul Iman on the first day, shared that it is kind of hard to be away from family, especially on the very first day. She said she missed the chance to greet her parents and siblings as she had to leave early for work. However, she takes this on a positive note as it is a part of her responsibility as a reporter.
Siti Norhamizah said her colleagues who were also working on the first day, helped cheer the atmosphere with a simple celebration at office to keep the Raya mood. Hotelier Wono Novi Putrianti from Solo, Indonesia said the last time she celebrated Raya with her family members including her seven-year-old son in Yogyakarta, was three years ago.
“I have been working here for the past 14 years and over these years, especially during the first year, was quite a struggle but the festive Raya atmosphere helped me a bit.” Novi added that working on the first day of Raya is better than staying at home in the morning as she misses her son back home. Concierge at Mulia Hotel Mohammad Azahar shared that he felt blessed and grateful as it is his first year celebrating with his wife as a family, although he had to report for work on the day. He said he was able to spend some time with his wife, parents and in-laws before going off to work.
Mohammad Azahar’s fellow colleague service agent at Mulia Hotel Siti Nurshahkirah who was on duty on the first day of Raya, shared that this year marks the sixth year of Hari Raya without her late mother.
For her, working on the first day of Raya does not bother her as much as the thought of celebrating Hari Raya with her relatives from Malaysia who came for a visit this year. She said she looked forward to finishing work and joining them for Raya visits. Meanwhile Jimmy is used to missing family gatherings on the first day of Raya since he started working offshore.
He had only a couple of opportunities to do so in the past years, adding that it does not matter as when his turn comes, he gets to celebrate until the end of Syawal which he always looks forward to.
“I have a small family and my parents are both no longer around since my first few years of working so I really don’t mind having to work on the first few days of Raya. Anyway I get to celebrate with fellow colleagues when we are on break, so the experience has always been good.” – Lyna Mohamad
