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Celebrate and reflect with family and friends during this year’s Hari Raya Haji
Hari Raya Haji 2025
When: June 7, 2025
By Johnson Chang
Singapore only has a few holidays left, and one that’s coming really soon is Hari Raya Haji, which falls on June 7, 2025 (though celebrations might begin on the evening of June 6).
Also known as Eid al-Adha or the Great Day of Sacrifice, Hari Raya Haji is a festival that marks the end of Hajj, which is the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.
Additionally, this is a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in an act of obedience to Allah, so on top of celebrating, devotees use this time to reflect as well.
Even though I’m not Muslim myself, I’m excited for this holiday because it’s nice to see my Muslim friends celebrating. Sometimes, they also give me Eid cookies, and I can’t say no to that.
Here are a few more things you can expect to happen for this year’s Hari Raya Haji.
Traditions
From: mccysg
Different Muslims in Singapore have their own way of celebrating Hari Raya Haji, and technically, there are no compulsory traditions. That said, most Muslims in Singapore practice fasting, prayers, and the korban ritual to celebrate this occasion.
Fasting is usually done on the eve of Hari Raya Haji, and on the day of, devotees gather in mosques to participate in congregational prayers. Afterwards, they do the korban ritual, which is arguably the most important ritual for this festival.
Korban is essentially a sacrifice of livestock, such as sheep, goats, or cows. Whoever sacrifices the animal can keep a third of the meat, and they can give the remainder to loved ones, neighbours, and the poor or the needy.
Some Muslims also make sweet treats like ma’amoul to celebrate Hari Raya Haji. Ma’amoul is a butter cookie made with semolina flour, and it also comes with a filling, usually dried fruits, like figs and dates, or nuts, like pistachios and walnuts.
Where to Go
If you want to make the most of your Hari Raya Haji celebrations, here are some of my recommendations on where to go because I hear they’re offering fun surprises on this day.
- Arab Street: Arab Street is home to the Sultan Mosque, one of the most majestic mosques in the country and undoubtedly one of the most visited. But more than that, Arab Street has a slew of restaurants serving Arab cuisine, making it the perfect place to go to celebrate.
- Islamic Restaurant International. Located on 735 North Bridge Road, this restaurant has a special promo for Hari Raya Haji, which includes lamb shank biryani, chicken biryani, brinjal pachadi, and more. Even though it’s closed on the day of, you can pre-order until June 4 and have the meal delivered on June 7.
- Café 2000 at Millennium Hotels. This restaurant also has a special takeaway combo special in honor of Hari Raya Haji. This special includes a meat lover pizza, arrabbiata pasta, battered fish and chicken, black truffle fries, and cake.
- Syed Cafe Exclusive on 2 Telok Blangah Way. This restaurant is open Hari Raya Haji, so feel free to celebrate by indulging in their delicious halal-certified Thai, Asian, and Western cuisines.
