10 Things to do Before Hari Raya Puasa

Ramadan Mubarak!

It’s that time of the year again to fast and reflect upon what you’ve done in the past year for our Muslim friends.

It isn’t as sombre as it sounds, though. Ramadan is also a time of joy where the family comes together to break fast and prepare for the upcoming Hari Raya celebration.

There are lots of things to do before the end of Ramadan. To make sure our Muslim friends don’t miss out anything and to give our non-Muslim readers some idea about what needs to be done before Hari Raya, we’ve prepared a list of 10 Things You Must Do Before Hari Raya Puasa in Singapore.

Read on to see if you’ve missed anything out.

1. It’s time for Ramadan cleaning

Whether it is for religious purposes or preparation for Eid, this is the time to resolve all the clutter and get the household in shape for Eid or Hari Raya. Air out pieces of furniture, mattresses or armchairs, wash the curtains, tablecloth, sheets and everything to make your place is spick and span before house visiting.

2. Decorate the house

Aside from spring cleaning, you can go one step further to give your house a brand new look with some minor decorations. It can, however, turn into a huge endeavor so keep in mind the tips below:

Get the colour scheme right

Match your table runners, cushion covers, and even your curtains as much as possible to create a feeling of harmony.

Create magic with lights

This is also a time to shop for those lights as they can add quite a bit of sparkle to the house!

Fairy lights, especially, add a touch of magic to the entire decor. Don’t go overboard though because you want them to look sophisticated and not messy.

Don’t forget the moon and the stars

Moon and stars are one of those things you can’t go wrong with. Choose gold, silver and pale green, especially those with lights, for that extra festive cheer!

Pick out flowers

Fresh flowers and plants in your dining area will create a natural refreshing setting and make your guests feel more welcome. It is also pretty simple to add so consider dropping by the florist near you.

Prepare Islam-related artwork

From batik hangings to Islamic calligraphy, empty spaces are a good place to hang up art that reflects your beliefs and heritage. To reduce cost, you can print royalty-free artwork from the Internet or even consider affordable wall decals that you can use during Raya.

3. Service Your car or book your car rental early

Right before the holiday, don’t forget to go for the requisite servicing and cleaning so that it is sparkling clean for visiting. You can even get a few car accessories to commemorate the happy occasion. If you don’t have a car, it may be a good idea to consider a car rental to make house visiting that much more convenient and cost-effective.

4. Prepare baking/cooking ingredients for Eid

Eid is a time to show our friends and loved ones how much we love them … with food! There is lots of cooking to be done this season, so make it less hectic by planning what you are going to cook/bake and make your grocery shopping more efficient. You may also want to get some feedback on the type of snacks the family prefers to prevent too much left over.

If you don’t mind, invite your non-Muslim friends and neighbours to come over as well to share in the festivities. We may not express our appreciation enough but yes, we LOVE your cooking! Thank you for being so generous!

5. Get your body in shape

Just remember not to overeat during iftar because this may cause indigestion. You can eat more than usual during dinner but try to restrict the extra calorie intake and you’ll see a slimmer, healthier version of yourself in no time. Gym junkies may have to take it easy this month though because we don’t want you overworking!

6. Buy new clothes

With a slimmer you, it’s time to buy those beautiful baju kurungs that show your hard work. Remember to coordinate with your parents and siblings with regards to the colour though … because it just looks nicer when a family is wearing the same colour.

7. Get your hair done

If you are not wearing your headscarf, now is the time for you to get your hair done. Other than refreshing your house and your car, your hair is the next thing that you can refresh to show a whole new you.

Rebond Perm at Act Point Salon

This is what Agent SK decided to do this Ramadan. After years of dreaming about straightened hair, she decided to take the courage to try a rebond perm where she straightened the top part of the hair and permed the second half for a more symmetrical structured look.

With her styling time cut from one hour every day for her hair to just 15 min of blowdrying, Agent SK is one happy girl this Eid holiday. For those of you keen to colour your hair, remember to check out our Best Promotions on Hair and Beauty Salons in Singapore to get the best bang for your buck in Singapore!

Pink Hair Colour at 99 Percent Hair Studio @ Bedok Point

Students, we also collated a list of Best Student Promotions for Hair Salons for you!

8. Prepare for green packets and gift-giving

Stores are giving out green packets this season, so remember to scout for the nice ones and get them ready for Eid. You may also want to get to the bank one of these days to change for new notes so that you don’t have to deal with the last-minute rush!

For families who also prepare gifts on top of green packets, here’s the time to do some shopping – online or offline – to get your family member that present he/she has been bugging you for!

9. Get a new makeup set

Given its rave reviews, we expect Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty makeup sets to be a hotly gifted item this Eid!

10. Head to Johor Baru

There’s so much to do and so much to buy before Eid holidays! It is a great time this June to head to Johor Baru to get your grocery shopping done. With the ringgit going lower and Malaysia’s abolishment of GST, we expect prices to be lower than usual! Do however avoid the weekends to avoid the traffic.

Let us know if we miss any MUST-DO Hari Raya prep this Ramadan!