YOUTHS OUT TO REVIVE TRADITION WITH ‘REWANG’ DURING AIDILFITRI

For the sake of tradition, 30 youths in Taman Nira here have opted for a ‘rewang’ or gotong royong activity this year to welcome Hari Raya Aidilfitri tomorrow.

Taufiq Noor, 33, and his friends, together with several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Taman Nira Ride Club, Pepludin Generation and Pertubuhan Kebajikan Kenangan (PKK), want to revive the traditional village concept of doing something together in the spirit of goodwill and helping each other.

He said it was normal for villagers to cook and prepare for Aidilfitri, including making lemang.

“We are reviving the tradition of our ancestors by working together. This is the first time this activity is being organised and we plan to make it an annual affair.

“This time we are going to cook 100 sticks of lemang for distribution to villagers. This will not only lead to closer relations but also realise the preparations for Hari Raya in a ‘Rahmah’ way,” he told Bernama recently.

Meanwhile, PKK chairman Muhammad Nur Ridzuan Khairi Adzhar, 34, said he decided to join in the activities this year because he was impressed by the gotong royong concept.

He said the idea to pool resources the traditional way probably came about after some of the residents were hit by floods recently.

“I have been involved in the preparation of the lemang, from sourcing for bamboo to stuffing the rice and cooking. I did everything myself. It is much cheaper than buying lemang, which costs about RM18 to RM25 per stick.

“Lemang is a traditional dish that has been passed down from generation to generation. I am proud that the youths here can prepare it and hope that the tradition will continue in the modern era,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency