BERITAmediacorp: 350 former residents, 'return home' to celebrate Hari Raya on Pulau Ubin

By: Nurulkhasanah Agost

BERITAmediacorp: For the very first time, a huge Hari Raya celebration was organised for hundreds of current and former residents of Pulau Ubin.

Over 350 residents, 'returned home' to the eastern island off Singapore to attend Pesta Raya@Ubin, thus reuniting ties of the 'Ubin people' which for many decades have been "cut off".

BERITAmediacorp was invited exclusively to attend and witness the colours of the event which was initiated by Kawan Ubin and National Parks Board (NParks).

HAVE NOT MET IN 20 TO 40 YEARS

“If the place where we fell is cherished, what more where we played during childhood”. For a majority of the Ubin residents, that place is really where blood was shed because they were born there.

Certainly, the homesickness of hundreds of 'Ubin people' were cured, after they have crossed the sea and returned to their village to celebrate Hari Raya over there - Singapore's final authentic kampong still in existence.

Expressions of joy were clearly shown on their faces when they met with their old friends and neighbours, some of whom they have not met in over 20 to 40 years.

Imagine the amount of times they exchanged greetings, hugs and even shed some tears in the midst of joy and nostalgia whilst in the kampong environment.

That was the repeated scenario witnessed throughout the four to five hours in which the celebrations were held.

HAPPY TILL ONE CAN IGNORE ONE'S FOOT PAIN

A former resident, Mr Abdul Malik Salleh, mentions that this reunion serves as an opportunity for him and his friends to remember the good old days.

"Back when I was still a teenager I had also done a Hari Raya celebration too. If I'm not mistaken, that was back in 1977. So when a celebration was held once more this year, it made us think back on our past." said Mr Malik, 64, who now resides in Bedok North.

For Mdm Noorazizah Noordin however, the amount of joy that she felt could not be expressed in words, furthermore after meeting her friends and teachers from the Pulau Ubin Malay School - a school which only lives in memory today.

For Mdm Noorazizah, she was extremely excited to come for the Hari Raya celebrations that even the pain in her feet, which was caused as a result from a minor accident, could not be felt due to the joy she felt in her heart.

As soon as saw the features of one of her teachers whom she had not met for over 30 years, she called out in pure happiness from afar - "Teacher! My teacher!"

"My teachers whom I had not met in many years, I finally got to see them today. That teacher is my English language teacher. So, today I got to meet my teachers and many others whom probably I had not met in over 10, 20 years. Today, I finally got to see them. I am extremely happy!" shared Mdm Noorazizah to BERITAmediacorp with a wide smile.

A CELEBRATION LIKE NO OTHER

Apart from catching up and chit-chatting, residents were entertained with a variety of showcases such as Malay Dance, kompang and dikir barat performances.

Traditional games were also prepared throughout Kampong Sungei Durian, such as five stones, congkak and sepak takraw.

Furthermore, many of the residents brought along their children and grandchildren to give them the joyful experience of celebrating Hari Raya in the kampong.

The cheerful shrieks of laughter and giggles from children, revving of motorcycle engines by youths donning tanjak and beautiful women dressed in batik, was enough to show us how amazing the environment was to celebrate Hari Raya in the kampong.

Luqman Selamat, son to a former Ubin resident shared the same joy.

Even though his family of six generations always celebrate Hari Raya together in Kampong Sungei Durian, this was the first time that he witnessed a celebration like no other.

"If we were in the city, we would always be rushing for time, need to chase from one place to another. Sometimes... the homeowners are not at home. So, sometimes we would not be able to meet them. If over here, we are able to see each other in one setting," said the 30 year-old youth.

Another descendant of the Ubin community, Noor Hisam Rahmat, 37, though born in mainland Singapore, was raised for five to six years in his father's kampong on Pulau Ubin.

With that said, he was very proud and happy to attend the Hari Raya celebrations at the kampong and share his excitement with his beloved wife.

"I grew up here from when I was young till I was an adult. So this is indeed a very special event for me as I get to bring my wife along. We get to see all of our other relatives whom we have not met for so long, as well as other kampong residents," shared Mr Noor Hisam to BERITAmediacorp.

OUR KAMPONGS, OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY TOO.

The Pesta Raya@Ubin event was the second of the 'balik kampung' initiatives led by Kawan Ubin and NParks.

The event was not just reserved for Malay/Muslim residents. Instead, residents who are non-Malay were also invited to grace the occasion. 

"Praise be to God, when we sent out the invitations to everyone (residents), they really expressed their happiness and excitement.

"I hope that through this event that our kampongs in Singapore too consists of perspectives and values that are important for us to form as part of our national identity as well," shared Mr Nor Syazwan, a member of the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN) and organising chairman of Pesta Raya@Ubin.

If Geylang Serai has a Hari Raya light-up, the event at Pulau Ubin also has a 'light-up' of its own. It was simple but symbolic. Warm-white light bulbs were lit around Maghrib time (sunset), adding on to the nostalgia of kampong life.

Furthermore after the sun has set, a giant "lamp" in the sky, which was the moonlight from the almost-full moon, lit up their event as they sat cross-legged on the earth of Ubin.

"Wonderful! Such a happy sight. Thank you to those who organised this event for us former residents. It's been so long since we got to feel the kampong experience during Hari Raya. So now we really got to immerse ourselves in it. Really, such a wonderful experience," claimed a former resident, Mr Dzuraimy Mohamed Naim, 50.

Certainly, this Hari Raya celebration was a truly memorable and heartwarming experience for all the residents of Pulau Ubin.

Maybe, for as long as events such as this continue to be held on Pulau Ubin, the memories and stories of Pulau Ubin will continue to live on with the 'Ubin people' and other Singaporeans too.

- BERITAmediacorp/nk

Source:

https://berita.mediacorp.sg/mobilem/eksklusif/ramadan2019/350-bekas-penduduk-naik-bot-balik-kampung-sambut-hari-raya-di/4296238.html