Hari Raya Aidilfitri: Marking the End of Ramadan, and a Homecoming Celebration

On the last night of Ramadan, the whole country seems to move all at once. The North–South Expressway is jammed for hours, bus stations are full of bags and cookie tins, and pelita lamps are lit on verandas from the cities to the far corners of the kampung. The next day, 1 Syawal, a month of fasting ends — and Malaysia celebrates Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

This article describes the meaning and practices of the festival descriptively: what happens, in what order, and why. It states cultural and social facts and refers to official guidance for religious observances — without interpreting religious teachings.

When and why: 1 Syawal

Aidilfitri falls on 1 Syawal, the first day of the month of Syawal in the Islamic calendar, as soon as the fasting month of Ramadan ends. Because the Islamic calendar is based on the movement of the moon (qamari) and is shorter than the Gregorian calendar, the date of Aidilfitri shifts about 11 days earlier every year on the ordinary calendar.

The entry of Syawal is not fixed arbitrarily. It is confirmed through rukyah — the sighting of the new moon — and announced officially. If the new moon is sighted on the 29th night of Ramadan, the following day is 1 Syawal; if not, Ramadan is completed at a full 30 days. That is why the announcement that 「raya is tomorrow」 often only comes in the afternoon or evening.

One thing that is often misunderstood: although the name is commonly Hari Raya Puasa, it is not a day for fasting. The name means the celebration that follows the fasting month. According to JAKIM sources, fasting on the day of Aidilfitri is among the days on which fasting is forbidden.

The sequence of the festival according to official guidance

Religious observances on Aidilfitri follow a clear sequence. The details below are based on official material from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM):

When	Practice
Before the raya prayer	Zakat fitrah is paid by every individual who is able to
Raya eve (from Maghrib)	Takbir raya is recited, at mosques and at home
Morning of 1 Syawal	The Aidilfitri sunat prayer is performed in congregation at a mosque or open field

Zakat fitrah is a payment made before the raya prayer; its rate is set by the religious authority of each state and can be paid through state zakat channels. After the prayer, the social part of the day begins — visiting and feasting.

Balik kampung: the annual homecoming migration

The most visible social practice is balik kampung — urban residents returning to their hometowns to celebrate raya with their extended family. It produces one of the densest movements of people in a year in Malaysia, with expressways, trains, buses and domestic flights packed for several days before and after raya.

For many Malaysians, the heart of Aidilfitri is not just a holiday, but the journey home — reuniting across generations at the family home.

Before setting off, homes are cleaned and decorated; some put up pelita lamps or lip-lap lights. New clothes — often called baju raya, frequently commissioned to match in colour across a family — are prepared to be worn on the morning of raya.

Asking forgiveness, duit raya and festive food

After the raya morning prayer, families usually shake hands and ask forgiveness of one another — children seek forgiveness from parents and elders. The usual greeting is Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir dan Batin.

Among the practices most familiar to children is duit raya: money given by adults to children, usually in small coloured envelopes — green, yellow and various raya designs. It becomes a feature that is looked forward to every year.

The raya table, meanwhile, is full of traditional dishes. Among them:

• Ketupat and lemang (glutinous rice cooked in bamboo)
• Rendang beef or chicken, and peanut sauce
• Various kuih raya such as biscuits, pineapple tarts and sweet kuih

Rumah terbuka: a Malaysian hallmark

Throughout the month of Syawal — not just the first day — families hold rumah terbuka: doors are opened to relatives, neighbours and friends to come visit and enjoy food. In Malaysia, rumah terbuka often crosses race and religion: guests from the Chinese, Indian and other communities are also invited and attend, and government agencies and companies also hold their own rumah terbuka.

This practice of visiting from house to house is known as ziarah — strengthening ties with family and friends.

Ziarah kubur

Another practice during the raya period is ziarah kubur: visiting the graves of family members who have passed away. Many do this on the morning of raya before or after the prayer, cleaning the grave and reciting prayers. For many families, it is a quiet and reflective part of the day’s festivity.

Common mistakes

• Thinking Aidilfitri is a day for fasting. On the contrary — it is the celebration after the fasting month, and fasting on that day is forbidden according to JAKIM sources.
• Confusing Aidilfitri with Aidiladha. Aidiladha (Hari Raya Haji) is a separate celebration on 10 Zulhijjah, associated with the hajj season and the sacrifice ritual — not the end of Ramadan.
• Assuming the date is fixed every year. It moves about 11 days earlier a year and is confirmed through rukyah, so the official date is often only announced at the last moment.
• Equating raya with just one day. The practices of ziarah and rumah terbuka usually continue throughout the month of Syawal, even though the public holiday is only two days.

What’s next

• For context on this annual migration, see balik kampung and kampung.
• For the public holiday status and public holiday rules, see public holidays in Malaysia.
• For background on Malaysia’s religious demographics, see population by religion.