Nadiah M Din celebrates first Haji with husband
Three pairs of celebrity newly-weds share how they will be celebrating their first Hari Raya Haji, which is today, as married couples.
He is no stranger to how the Muslim community here celebrates Hari Raya Haji even though he converted to Islam only last October.
Having lived in Singapore for the past seven years, Mr Bilal Jeanpierre, 30, who married local actress Nadiah M. Din last month after dating for two years, is well-accustomed to many Malay and Muslim traditions and customs.
The client engagement manager, who is a French national, finds the way Muslims here celebrate Hari Raya Haji more familiar as the celebrations are short.
It is unlike Hari Raya Puasa, when celebrations can go on for weeks.
Nadiah, 26, told The New Paper: "Eid celebrations usually last only a couple of days in Europe, so Hari Raya Haji celebrations are more to Bilal's tastes."
The couple plan to spend their first Hari Raya Haji as a married couple at Nadiah's aunt's home with the rest of her family.
They also spent yesterday helping Nadiah's mother to cook.
Nadiah said: "Bilal said he wanted to help out in the kitchen, so that was a first experience for him."
FAMILY
Mr Jeanpierre told TNP: "This is my second time celebrating Hari Raya Haji, so I know what to expect.
"I am looking forward to spending precious time with family, and remembering God together."
As for the tradition of sacrificing animals such as sheep and lamb, Mr Jeanpierre said he would like to perform the korban himself someday.
"The process is more complicated than people think, so I hope to learn all about it and try it myself in the future," he said.
Nadiah added that she feels blessed that her husband is always trying to learn more about Islam.
"I am very blessed that he is so humble and adapts very easily," she said.
"The process is more complicated than people think it is, so I hope to learn all about it and try it myself in the future."
- Mr Bilal Jeanpierre on performing the sacrificial ritual of korban
No big Haji plans for newly-wed Sezairi Sezali
Newly-weds Sezairi Sezali, 29, and Syaza Qistina Tan, 25, have no big plans for this Hari Raya Haji even though it is their first time celebrating it as a married couple.
The pair, who held their wedding reception last month at the SAF Yacht Club in Changi after getting married in January, plan on spending today visiting Sezairi's parents and eating with their families.
Sezairi, who won Singapore Idol 3, told The New Paper: "It has been a while since we celebrated a special occasion at my parents' place since Hari Raya Puasa was celebrated at my grandmother's house."
The couple live in Pasir Ris with Ms Syaza's mother and younger sister.
SACRIFICE
Sezairi has never performed the korban, but he is able to recall visiting his grandmother's house in Johor when he was younger to help out with the sacrificing.
With a smile, he said: "I will not be doing it this year because I do not think I would have the guts, but who knows in the future?"
But if there is one thing he is looking forward to, it is starting his own traditions with Ms Syaza.
He said: "It has been a pretty hectic year with the wedding just over. We still have not really settled in to our new lives together.
"Visiting the elders would be a nice place to start."
