Malaysians on `Eid Shopping Spree

The majority of `Eid last-minute shoppers are women purchasing for their families. (IOL Photo)

"This is a normal phenomenon that can be seen in any state of Malaysia during the final days of Ramadan," Zarina Mohamad, a seller in the capital Kuala Lumpur, told Islamonline.net.

"People are rushing to bazaars for their final preparation to celebrate `Eid al-Fitr."

The buying spree is in full swing across Malaysia, where the sighting of the Shawwal moon which determines the beginning of `Eid will be conducted at 28 locations nationwide later on Thursday evening.

Several stores are holding special sales in conjunction with the festive season Bazzar Ramadan which the government had declared a mega sale month.

In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the Masjid India area is the destination for many last-minute shoppers who are looking for the best deals.

Zarina, who sells long and loose-fit garments for Muslim women, notes that the majority of `Eid shoppers are usually women.

"We could see that the majority of purchasers are women. There are many wives who are buying clothes for their husbands."

`Eid Al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, together with `Eid Al-Adha.

After special prayers to mark the day, festivities and merriment start with visits to the homes of friends and relatives.

Traditionally, everyone wears new clothes for `Eid, and the children look forward to gifts.

Muslim Malays make up nearly 60 percent of the 26-million population of multicultural Malaysia.

Cookies Too  

"Customers are buying the cookies even though the price is a little bit higher than last year," Muormaunita tells IOL.

But it's not just clothes that Malaysians rush to buy for `Eid.

"Customers are buying the cookies even though the price is a little bit higher than last year," Muormaunita, who sells traditional home-made cookies and chips, told IOL.

Standing in her shop surrounded with the freshly-backed cookies, the 18-year- old says that customers usually start purchasing cookies for `Eid in the middle of Ramadan

"They first identify and select different kinds of cookies and chips during the first two weeks of Ramadan.

"Later on, they come for the second time and do the real purchasing."

The colorful cookies and chips are usually made by Malaysian villagers.

As the `Eid celebrations draw nearer, villagers send the traditional home-made cookies to shops in major cities.

Muormaunita says that cookies are now offered in a wide variety of styles.

Arab Delight Cookies, Chocolate Chips, Chocolate Crunchy, Honey Cornflakes and
Roll Tart are but a few of the delicacies on sale.

And with so many options before them, customers grow choosier than ever, notes the cookies vendor.

"They now prefer modern cookies instead the traditional Malay cookies."