The True Meaning of Hari Raya
No one really cares about anything else except eating the contents of what can only be described as home-made nuclear rods, or some weapon crafted by the Mayan civilisation to inflict mass extermination on the neighbouring tribe. There is something very appealing about eating food that only barbarians could have created. Everything about Lemang conjures up notions of power and strength. Even the cooking process is like lining up surface to air missiles aimed to demolish Moscow- holding it is like holding pipe bombs or a barrel of a chain gun during World War 2. In fact, you can’t carry Lemang from the stall to your car without scalding off the skin on your forearms or hands because when they deliver it to you straight off the fire- it is delivered to you straight offthe fire. No one but a well trained commando, seasoned by the Vietnam or Pacific war could purchase Lemang.
Once the warrior has sliced upon Lemang and offers its contents to those around him, its like rewarding your entire army with gold. The smiles on everyones face, the sight of relief and jubilation after waiting patiently almost an entire year since the last Raya to savour the glory of rice cooked in bamboo klingon style. That ecstasy and jubilation is what Raya is all about. It is the only thing Raya is about. Lemang is king during Raya- even the finest rendang would have to blemish itself into the background, ketupats might as well be fed to the dogs- or cats, since its Raya. At every Raya dinner or lunch function there will be abundant leftovers of all the other mediocre, inferior foods but Lemang would deplete into extinction, devoured by those who have starved themselves for a whole month-longing for this one day when Lemang is made available.
Raya is great- only for the reason we get to eat fire breathing home made nuclear rods capable to injecting mass euphoria and subsequent death.
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