Raya 2013 Musings.

So we celebrated Aidilfitri (or more commonly known as Raya in Malaysia) last Thursday, 8th August 2013. This day marks 1st Syawal in the Islamic calendar, or in other words, the first day after the last day of the fasting month of Ramadan. In most countries they just sound out the 'takbir Raya' in the morning (as well as the night before) and then go about their daily routines. In Malaysia, though, Raya is a big thing.

Traditionally, Raya is when the Muslim Malays travel to their respective hometowns to gather with their family members. People are dressed in fancy traditional costumes. Everyone eats traditional Raya food like lemang and rendang, and the young ones (and also the young at heart) play with firecrackers. Finger treats in the form of kuih raya are in abundance. Money in the form of duit raya is handed out by the older people in the family to the younger ones.

Aidilfitri is a day that is richly embedded into Malay culture. Never mind that it's really a religious celebration; whenever you mention Raya here in this country, you inevitably tend to associate the celebration with Malays.

Well, then. Whenever something this big comes around, there is always room for criticism. And it seems (to me, anyway) that this year the Raya criticism tends to be directed towards the younger generation, or at least just the ones who are constantly glued to the screens of their electronic devices.

The main point of this criticism is the fact that the levels of human interaction are decreased, thanks to these evil electronic devices. Well, I do get that. You really should be using the opportunity to talk with and strengthen bonds between people you only get to see once or twice a year. It's better to face an actual person than your phone or tablet. But what happens when you don't interact with people even without fixating your gaze onto a screen?

That's exactly how it is in my case. Being an introvert, I generally don't like large gatherings, regardless of whoever it is that's in attendance. If there's no one to talk to, or if I don't feel like talking to anyone, I'll just sit by myself and read a book or eat or something. However, I don't play with my handheld electronic device (in this case, my phone), but mostly because I don't really do that anyway.

So what am I getting at here? Well, in this extrovert-filled world, some people just don't understand how you wouldn't want to be socializing 24/7. Maybe these young people turn to their phones, tablets and laptops because they need a break from all the talking and interacting. Maybe they're like me, and don't really like talking or interacting (well, not all the time, anyway). 

Or maybe they're just so addicted that they just don't know how or when to switch off. I wouldn't know; it's not something I can really relate to.