Hari Raya Puasa or Eid Al Fitr in Singapore

The first day of Hari Raya/ Eid Al Fitr in Singapore is a public holiday and is celebrated by private sector. Workers and civil servants not required to work. The usual greeting in Singapore by Muslims is “Selamat Hari Raya,” which in Malaysian means, “Happy Eid.”

In order to reconcile and renew relationships, the usual greeting is “Maaf Zahir dan Batin,” which means “I seek forgiveness from you spiritually and physically,” because that is part of what Hari Raya is all about. During the fasting month of Ramadan, everyone except for the very young or the very old must fast and most even abstain from sex and cigarettes during the daylight hours.

Ramadan bazaars or markets in many places in the country have Kuih and other traditional Malay delicacies to sell when breaking fast or buka puasa. Many hotels and restaurants have taken this a step further by offering exorbitant Ramadan buffets as their main attraction.

Some excellent places to observe Hari Raya and prepare for the festival include the Kampong Glam and Geylang Serai, which are outdoor markets that light up during Hari Raya as well as different Mosque around Singapore. Hari Raya in Singapore is a peak travel destination and will very likely be books up during this time so making plans and booking your hotel in advance is strongly advised for Hari Raya Puasa 2015.