The Muhibbah Spirit

Yes sir........it could only be in Malaysia . The last four months of the year is packed with festivals . I'm proud to say my friends comprised all of these different races and their festivals .I don't have to leave Malaysia to experience these celebrations .The tag Malaysia truly Asia is most apt.

The best part of all these celebrations is that you can visit your friends ( who you know are celebrating the festivals ) . You don't need an invitation .The procedure is simple . No complications and non fussy . All it need is your time . Do dress appropriately . Do go with an open heart and open mind . Be happy because its a happy occasion .

Next step is .............just walk in ( to gate crash doesn't apply here ) to your friend's house and in turn your friends will welcome you with open arms . Mind you ......they are glad and really appreciate the effort you had put in to wish them a " Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri " or " Selamat Hari Gawai " or "Happy Deepavali " or " Merry Christmas " or " Happy Chinese New Year " .

Food and drinks will be served . Their houses are beautifully decorated ; spruced up and cleaned ...to welcome guests and friends . Your friend's family will all be there ....dressed in their finest.... that's what the festivals all about ...to be celebrated with family . So you stay on for a while .....you talked of happy times ...asking about where so and so is ....etc . etc . You feel good , happy and glad to have met them again. And they in turn feeling proud to have a friend in you who took the time to celebrate the occasion with them . That's the muhibbah spirit .

My christian friends will be celebrating christmas tomorrow . Merry Christmas to my ex colleagues Dury Saing , Johanna Alfred , Sara Tero , Suma Sundom , Monica and other childhood friends ..Cecelia Rentis , Rose Gringgu and school friends...Pauline Fam , David Leong , Pearly Liew , Elsie Chow , Grace Arthur , Noni Peter and many many more ....wherever you are my friends .

Last month the Hindus celebrated their Deepavali ...Festival of Lights . Most Hindu houses will make the " kolam " found near entrances .

Beautiful motifs made of fine colored rice as a gesture of welcome .

And two months earlier , the muslims celebrated Hari Raya Aidil Fitri . Again another joyous occasion where you will get to meet the family members who will try to make it home for family gatherings .

My brother's house . All decked out with colorful lights .


The little Hari Raya visitors . All dressed in their best clothes .

Feeling glad that your cousins came by to visit you .

What more can I say ? All these celebrations are happily welcomed and embraced by all Malaysians ....I'm glad that I'm able to enjoy these celebrations in peace and harmony . May we Malaysians live in many many more years of continuous peace .....

Till then ...............