When Is Hari Raya Puasa 2013 in Malaysia? Hari Raya Puasa falls on 8-9 August, 2013.
Hari Raya Puasa is celebrated at the end of the Ramadan month every year to mark the end of the fasting season. It is celebrated in a grand scale in Malaysia whose population and administration are predominantly Muslim. Hari Raya Puasa is also known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, or simply called Hari Raya for short, even though the latter term is also used for other Muslim celebrations throughout the year.
When translated Hari Raya Puasa literally means “Celebrate the fast” or “Feast of Breaking the Fast” and Aidilfitri also has a similar meaning in Arabic. As the celebration marks an end to the Ramadan month, the first day of the celebration would fall on the first day of the Sawal month.
Since the Muslim Calendar follows the cycle of the moon, the dates for Hari Raya Puasa changes each year on the Gregorian calendar. The exact date is announced each year when religious officials view the New Moon from various points of vantage around the country.
In Malaysia, the first two days of Syawal (the month after Ramadan) are observed as public holidays but among the Muslims, it is normal to take an entire week off to celebrate. Celebrations can also last for as long as a month.
Fasting month
Prior to the celebration, Muslims fast for a whole month in the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and considered the holiest of months in the calendar. During this month, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sexual intercourse during the day. The act of fasting and abstaining is intended to remind and teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to Allah. It is a time of spiritual reflection and during this month, Muslims are expected to put in more effort into following the teachings of Islam. Dressing in a lewd manner, speaking ill of others and uncouthly attitude, lying, as well as