DeepaRaya is a name for the Deepavali and Hari Raya festivals, which are traditionally celebrated by Hindus and Muslims, respectively, in Malaysia as well as in Singapore. The word came about because of the occasional coincidental timing of the Hindu festival Deepavali and the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr, referred to in the Malay language as Hari Raya Aidilfitri. In this sense, it is similar to the portmanteau of Kongsi Raya, which combines the Chinese New Year with Hari Raya.
Although the word "DeepaRaya" has been in use for some time, it came under criticism in the run-up to Deepavali and Eid ul-Fitr of 2005, when the mufti of the state of Perak criticised it and labeled it as "haram" or "illegal". A few Muslim Malay bloggers also criticised its usage.
Dates of DeepaRaya
The phenomenon is observed to take place every 33 years. The last occurrence was between 2004 and 2006; the next will be between 2037 and 2039.
| Year | Deepavali | Hari Raya Aidilfitri |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | November 11 | November 14 |
| 2005 | November 1 | November 3 |
| 2006 | October 21 | October 24 |
| 2037 | November 6 | November 10 |
| 2038 | October 27 | October 30 |
See also
References
- "Haram merayakan perayaan orang-orang kafir". Retrieved Oct. 31, 2005.
- Juferi, Mohd Elfie Nieshaem (2005). "DeepaRaya? Sacriligeous!". Retrieved Oct. 31, 2005.
- Ooi, Jeff (2004). "Not too late for DeepaRaya". Retrieved Oct. 31, 2005.