Kutip Duit Raya di Taman Kerian

Parit Buntar is a small town at the most northern part of Perak. One of the 'special' part about Parit Buntar that is worth mentioning is that this town's location is near at the border of three states - Perak, Kedah & Penang. One moment you're in Perak. Traveling another 10 minutes will land you in Kedah. Drive another 10 minutes and you're in Penang. This once sleepy town is where I spent most of my childhood memories & this year I'll spend the 1st day of Raya in this town.

This year will be extra special for my family. After having more than 6 years of Raya without all the family members, this year will be the 1st year that we can all gather together. When Iqbal had spent his studies in Southampton & Rahimah in Nizhny (Iqbal fondly referred to Nizhly Land, parody of Disney Land), the only siblings that left were Rosman & myself. Last year we almost spent the Raya together but since it was Dahlia's turn for the 1st Raya, when I arrived at Parit Buntar Rahimah already gone back to Alor Setar. I only realized it later in the day, but this year is the 1st year that we managed to gather all the family members.

After the sembahyang Raya, we had the mohon maaf among ourselves.

"Minta maaf kesalahan tahun lalu, tahun depan tak ulang lagi"

(Unfortunately for most of us, petang tu ulang balik, hehehehe)

Then we have the family group photo session by ourselves. Since Rahimah will only arrived late in the evening due to the night shift that Azam need to do last night, we took some photos by ourselves first.

Preparing Haziq's songkok

Haziq still struggling with his songkok

Haziq: Kenapala songkok ni tinggi sangat?

Everyone: Tu songkok Johorla Haziq!!!

Selamat Hari Raya 2013

After that it was the best part during Raya - visiting friends & relatives. For the 1st day of Raya, we went to our next door neighbor in the morning.

4 Power Rangers ready to raid houses.

2 and a half Men in action.

In the evening, we went to my aunt's house back in Tanjong Piandang. There are only 2 older aunts (my father's sisters) left that still alive. Since my grandmother's passing away last 10 years and my 2 aunts in the last 2 years, they are the only older generation that still living in the kampung of Tanjong Piandang. In my opinion, visiting the older generation is a must - while we still have the opportunity.

Haziq flying kick Iqbal at Along's house.

Retribution!!! Iqbal pays back to Haziq.

Rahimah arrived in Along's house late in the
evening with the baby bump.

The next day, we visited Kak Siti & Abg Halim's house which actually just 500 meters from our home. Haziq seems to be enjoying himself when he met up with Syahmi's son Alif which is also at the same age as him. For everyone else, it was the time to catch up with old times. Syahmi's wife even told us the story on how she delivered their 3rd baby in their car on the way to the hospital. Nerve wracking when hearing the story is underrated.....

The baby is sound & healthy at the center of everyone.

Light sabering between the 2 'warriors'.

Jadi penyanyi pulok doh!!!

Haziq & Alif

While we're visiting others, we also received visits from the friends & relatives during the 2nd Raya. In the morning, Fendi & family spent some time with us. It was even merrier in the evening. Abg Said & Kak Hasnah bring their whole families plus Along to our home. It was quite a scene when they all gathered in front of our home. Late in the evening, it was Rosman's high school friends turn to eat the kuih Raya.

Fendi's family will travel to Terengganu that night

Abg Said & Kak Hasnah came in the evening.

Kerusi pun tak cukup

Rosman was quite surprised when his friends came - he was actually
asleep when they arrived.

As much that I enjoy Raya this year, I must admit that Raya was best enjoyed when you're a kid. While nowadays people are still playing with bunga api & mercun (with the number of accidents still didn't abating every year), the scene was more happening when I was still a kid.

Playing with bunga api was more open during that time. I can still vividly remember when we're still in Taman Kerian, the whole street in Jalan Mawar was lightened up during the night with the kids playing bunga api. While the men praying terawih, the only thing that I looked to was playing bunga api at night.

Then the kutip duit raya ritual. While the kids nowadays didn't really went really far & hard to get their duit raya, it was different back then. Iqbal, myself & Ashraf really went to the whole way to get the duit raya. We started from our street, Jalan Mawar & through every street in Taman Kerian. The host were also more generous & welcoming compared to nowadays. In most of the house, we received 20 cents. Sometimes, if the host was more generous, we received 50 cents each. There was one YB house in Taman Kerian that gives out one Ringgit to every kid that came to his house.

And, man... words do spread quick about the house that gives out the larger duit raya even though we don't have cell phones during that time.

"Berapa hang dapat kat rumah tu?"

"Lima puluh sen? Wei, cepat jom pi rumah tu"

Some of our friends in our old house in Taman Kerian.

The only names that I can still recall - Epit at the far right . Unfortunately
Ashraf 2nd from right has passed away 3 years ago due to throat cancer.

I did reckoned to Iqbal that during that time we probably went to almost 100 houses during our kids time. With the 'gain' of almost RM20 & average about 20 cent/house, that estimation looked about right.


When I browsed the old photos, I stumbled one old photo that uncannily looks a lot like Haziq. Firstly, I thought it was Iqbal's old photo but as my mom pointed out it was Rosman's. I always wondering whom Haziq inherited his moody face & today I got the answer.

If we cover the eye, people will say it is Haziq in the photo.

2 moody generation - Rosman & Haziq

At the 3rd day of Raya, we took a group photo of everyone including Rahimah (who was missing on the Raay morning) before went to Kak Biah's son kenduri kahwin of Isalni. After that myself & Iqbal went back to KL while Rahimah & Azam went to Gerik.

2 kembar at the far right at the back.

Anugerah Syawal. Seindah Ramadhan.

Even though my time enjoying the Raya as a kid had ended, this time is actually Haziq's time (and his nephews in another 2 months time) to enjoy the Raya celebration. While he can't go house to house to collect duit raya as how Iqbal & me did, it seems he still enjoy the celebration visiting the relatives. As Haziq would've says, "Peace yo!"