It is Zhong Qiu Jie or Mid-Autumn Festival today

The Chinese all over the world will celebrate Zhong Qiu Jie or Mid-Autumn Festival today. Since two weeks ago or earlier mooncakes and deng long or lanterns have been on sale.

To cater for the health conscious people, mooncakes now are made of jelly and non-fat materials. The usual ones will have ground bean paste or lotus seeds paste as the filling.

It is a day of reunion for the Chinese too as relatives will come back and participate in activities such as watching the full moon outside the house while chatting among themselves. The children will thrill themselves by carrying lighted lanterns around the housing area with children of neighbours. Modern lanterns come with electronic gadgets that produce melodious music.

The history of mooncakes dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (A.D.8) when the Sung people were unhappy to live under the Mongolian rule. Hence they planned to rebel against the government quietly. The leaders ordered the making of mooncakes with a message calling people to rise against the Mongolians. It was a victory for the people when the Yuan Dynasty was overthrown and replaced with Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644)

Let us practise punctuality at all functions

I just came back from a wedding dinner. It was supposed to start at 7.30pm as printed on the invitation card but the dinner only commenced at 8.30pm, later by one hour. It seemed that it was the norm not to start at the stipulated time as some would be late. It is so illogical because the host has made those who are punctual wait for the late comers.

I am all for punctuality. All functions should start punctually unless some unforseen thing crops up. You can't make your guests wait for an hour if you are sincere in inviting them to your wedding dinner.

Let us practise punctuality at all functions.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Today is the 1st of Shawal, the 10th month of the Muslim calendar. The Muslims have fasted for a month prior to this and today they are celebrating the new year which is known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

As I am writing this blog, I can smell the rendang coming from my neighbour who lives in the same floor with me in a condominium. Soon I will be invited to savour this food item which is peculiar on this festive. It will go with lemang, a glutinous rice dumpling cooked in bamboo stems.

I take this opportunity to wish all Muslim readers of this blog a very happy 'Hari Raya Aidilfitri'.