Gathered in a circle together with their mothers and other cousins, Nurul, 28, and Aiman, 19, try their hand at the intricate process of weaving casings for the diamond-shaped rice cakes they will all savour when the big day comes around.
Every year, two days prior to the festivities, their two families reunite in their hometown of Sekinchan to weave casings for about 70 ketupat bawang and 80 ketupat satay.
Nurul and Aiman may not have mastered the craft yet, but are passionate about learning its intricacies to preserve the cherished tradition for future generations.
“It is hard. Sometimes I feel like giving up. You have to be focused, failing which you would have to start all over again. But we’re still learning because it’s part of our heritage.
We can’t let it die off because this is a tradition passed down from our ancestors. We have to continue so people will know its origins,” Nurul said.
Aiman cherishes the lively banter among cousins as they engage in a bit of competition over who has crafted the prettiest weave. He also enjoys the laughter that abounds when attempts go awry.
“Weaving ketupat usually takes up a whole day, especially if there is a lot to do. It gives us the opportunity to spend time with the whole family without distractions,” he said.
Aiman’s mother, Norhaizan Udin, 50, said she has always enjoyed the competitive spirit among the youngsters as they attempt to outdo each other.
“They are always competing to see who’s more skilled, who finishes faster. It’s like a race.
“Making ketupat is a tradition. It’s really fun because we all get to gather for Hari Raya,” she said.
According to Norhaizan, coconut leaves are sourced from the market and roadside stalls.
After carefully removing the midrib, each leaf is split into two halves. The intricate weaving process begins with one half of the leaf wrapped loosely around each hand.
Once weaving is complete, the casings are filled with rice and boiled.
“There’s a lot of chatter during the weaving process. We reminisce about when our kids were little. Those were the most enjoyable times for me,” said Norhaizan.
Her sister, Norazian Udin, 53, said those times came with their own challenges, especially when their children were first picking up the art.
“My sister and I taught our kids together. All the cousins learnt it at the same time, not individually.
“I remember they would keep interrupting us to ask questions. Sometimes we would lose our focus and have to start over, so that was one challenge,” she laughed.
With ready-made ketupat available in supermarkets, fewer people possess the skill these days and, sadly, the tradition appears to be gradually dying out.
“This tradition has been passed down through generations so we can’t just end it here. Perhaps we should teach it in school,” she said.
In addition to their cherished tradition, the family upholds various other Malay cultural customs during Hari Raya.
After morning prayers on the first day of Hari Raya, they gather to greet their elders, with the younger ones receiving duit raya.
This is followed by visits to neighbours and relatives to share in the joy of the celebration.
“Hari Raya holds significant meaning for us Muslims because it marks a victory for us – the end of fasting. It is a time when families should come together, making it a joyous occasion,” said Norhaizan.
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