Festive streetlights

I took this picture sometime late last year… the decor was up for a quite a while from Dec till after the  lunar new year.

Warning! Not for the fainthearted

Hari Raya Haji (or Hari Raya Aidiladha)

Muslims in Singapore celebrated Hari Raya Haji or Aidiladha on Thursday, 20 December 2007. This celebration falls on the 10th day of Zulhijjah (the 12th month of the Muslim calendar) and marks the end of the ‘haj’ or pilgrimage period, which lasts about two weeks. Muslims all over the world make the journey to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform the ‘haj’ as it is one of the five basic tenets of Islam.

After the Hari Raya Haji prayers, the Muslims observed the sacrifice of sheep or ‘korban’. The ‘korban’ or sacrifice of sheep means alot to the Muslims because not only is the act a form of religious duty for those who can afford it but it is also the means with which to demonstrate the compassion and solidarity among Muslims of all races. This is because the meat from each sacrificed sheep is given not only to the individual who made the sacrifice, his family, relatives and friends, but is also distributed to the poor and deserving people in the community.

More snapshots!

 Snapshots of Kampong Gelam light-up. 

 Fireworks for the Geylang Serai light-up. Source: Berita Harian 

Ramadhan’s here!

How do you know when Ramadhan is near? For a start , you get to see the decorations for this annual event being put up at Geylang Serai and Kampong Gelam. This year, Muslims in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia welcomed Ramadhan on 13 Sep 2007!

What is Ramadhan? Its the month Muslims the world over look forward to every year and during which they would fast daily from dawn till dusk. A simple break of one’s fast is usually kicked-off with dates and a glass of the fragrant sweet ‘Kathira’ drink… .  Ramadhan is also a month for strengthening one’s faith and renewing one’s pledge to be a better Muslim.

Kampong Gelam, glimmers till 21 Oct 2007!

Can you see the lone man doing all the work in the crane?!

 

Do you see what I see?

Guessed what it is? Yes, its a giant ‘ketupat’ !

Sultan Mosque

Location: 3, Muscat Street, Singapore 198833

Find out more about the mosque!