A Guitarist’s Take on Hari Raya: A Celebration with Dhalif Ali
I sat down with my talented friend and fellow guitarist, Dhalif Ali, who shared his personal experiences of celebrating Hari Raya as a musician. Hari Raya Aidilfitri, or simply Hari Raya, is a time of joy, reflection, and togetherness for the Muslim community. As the fasting month of Ramadan comes to an end, families and friends gather to celebrate with feasts, forgiveness, and a renewed spirit of gratitude. While Hari Raya is rich in cultural traditions, music plays an equally important role in setting the festive mood. Dhalif shared some valuable insights about Hari Raya to understand this connection better!
The Soundtrack of Hari Raya, as recommended by Dhalif Ali
“As a guitarist, music has always been a huge part of Hari Raya in my home,” Dhalif Ali tells me with a smile. “From the moment the first guests arrive, there’s a mix of traditional Hari Raya songs and modern renditions playing in the background. It just makes the whole celebration feel even more alive.”
Here are the top 3 songs as recommended by Dhalif!
- Black Dog Bone – Cahaya Aidilfitri
- Rahimah Rahim – Selamat Berhari Raya
- Puan Sri Saloma – Selamat Hari Raya
A Guitarist’s Take on the Festive Spirit
As a guitarist, Dhalif Ali finds ways to infuse his passion into the celebrations. “The most significant and meaningful tradition that we do during Hari Raya is that the family and extended family will gather at the aunt’s place, and everyone will ask for forgiveness in a line from eldest to youngest from our senior family members. Of course, the guitar will always be something we chat about!”
Dhalif is well known as a guitarist, but he is quite a foodie too!
“My favourite Hari Raya dish is definitely going to be something called Sambal Goreng Pengantin. It is a rich, spicy, and luxurious take on the traditional sambal goreng, often served during special occasions like weddings or Hari Raya, featuring a blend of spices, coconut milk, and ingredients like beef, liver, and lung. I’ve always picked out the liver separately because I don’t like it, but my wife makes them WITHOUT liver, which is perfect lol”
A Note of Harmony
As our conversation wraps up, Dhalif Ali leaves me with a final thought: “Hari Raya is more than just a festival—it’s a feeling. It’s the joy of reunion, the comfort of tradition, and the power of music to bring people together.”
As someone who is not a Muslim but deeply respects and admires the beauty of this festival, I find it inspiring how Hari Raya embodies unity through its traditions, music, and spirit of giving. Whether through the strumming of a guitar, the rhythm of traditional songs, or the laughter shared over a meal, the celebration of Hari Raya is a melody that welcomes everyone to join in.
If you wish to play the guitar as well as Dhalif, consider taking a Trial Lesson with us! I am sure with our decade-long experience, we will be of valuable help to you. Contact us through these easy channels! 🙂
