Written by: Marissa Saini
Hari Raya celebrations will be a little different this year, with Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) announcing that Muslims will celebrate the morning of Hari Raya in their homes with family members living in the same household. Visits by loved ones, an integral part of the big day, will transform to video call reunions.
On the bright side, celebrating Hari Raya during the circuit breaker gives us more spare time on our hands to check things off our holiday to-do list.
If you haven’t started preparing your home for the joyous celebration, don’t start scrambling yet – there’s still time to get your abode ready and looking its very best for a day of feasting, forgiveness, and feeling the Hari Raya spirit. Here’s a list of tips to get you started.
5 Simple Tips to Prepare Your Home for Hari Raya While Social Distancing
1. Start decluttering
Hari Raya is a day where you feast guilt-free on lontong with your relatives, some in person and some via video call. To keep the Hari Raya spirit alive, it’s always best to follow tradition (and maintain a spick and span home) with a thorough decluttering, even when there are no visitors to appreciate it.
Start with getting rid of items that have piled up and remain largely forgotten such as clothes that have not been worn in a while. Other types of clutter to dispose/ donate to relevant charities include old toys, kitchen utensils, toiletries, and shoes.
2. Deep-clean your home
Spring cleaning is an essential task to make your home sparkle. Hari Raya comes only once a year after all! Get your home looking immaculate by paying more attention to areas that would normally be overlooked during the everyday tidy-up.
Give the windows and mirrors a proper wide-down, then vacuum the dust bunnies under and behind bulky furniture. Be sure to comb through every nook and cranny with a duster. Leave no stone unturned – this applies to dust magnets like the blades of a ceiling fan and window blinds.
3. Get busy in the kitchen
Whipping up mouth-watering Hari Raya food staples is key to that quintessential experience. If you’re feeling a little blue, simply focusing on nailing the recipes you’ve always wanted to try and filling up your home with the aroma of ketupat, rendang, and sambal goreng can be a powerful reminder that while your loved ones may be apart, these traditions will always stay the same.
4. Throw in new curtains, cushions, and rugs
Getting your home Raya-ready isn’t just about making your home spotless. Not ready to let go of your current furniture? Spice up your home in a blink of an eye by swapping out the old cushion covers with brand-new ones. Stick to a colour palette for other textiles so that the curtains, carpets, and table runners have a cohesive look. Be sure to give a video tour of your newly decorated home when your friends and family start video calling.
5. Hang festive lights
Like the figurative icing on the cake, no home is ever truly Raya-ready without hanging the colourful fairy lights so synonymous with this joyful occasion. Let your neighbours know that your home is undeniably ready to welcome the festive celebration by installing the lights outside your living room or balcony window for a spectacular display.
With these tips, your home will be Raya-ready in no time. If you’re still missing the company of your loved ones, liven up the festive spirit by blasting your favourite Hari Raya playlist. Through these adjustments, we’re doing our part to overcome the COVID-19 threat. Together, let’s celebrate Hari Raya safely and responsibly!
Looking for ways to donate to a good cause this Hari Raya?
Ohmyhome has been in partnership with TOUCH over the years.
TOUCH Community Services is a not-for-profit charity organisation in Singapore. Officially registered in 1992, TOUCH has been a member of the National Council of Social Service since 1994. The organisation has reached out to many individuals from all religions and ethnicity, including children, youths, families, people with special and healthcare needs, and the elderly.
Learn more about TOUCH, call (65) 6377 0122, email tcs@touch.org.sg or you can donate now.
