FROM KITCHEN TO RAYA TABLE: KETUPAT PALAS TIGHTLY WOVEN TO AIDILFITRI TRADITION

KOTA BHARU, March 18 (Bernama) -- The fragrant smell of glutinous rice combined with the aroma of palas leaves fills the entire space, penetrating the heart with beautiful memories.

Every fold around the ketupat produced is not just a dish, but a heritage woven into each of its strands.

In the small kitchen that is never silent, Zainun Ibrahim, 45, deftly folds, fills and ties. Time seems to race against her, yet she remains steadfast in continuing the heritage art that has long been rooted in her life.

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Palas rice dumpling entrepreneur Zainun said she is no longer accepting orders for the must-have Aidilfitri dish because she is fully booked.

According to her, more than 3,000 ketupat have been ordered since the beginning of Ramadan, and if she accepts more orders, she fears she won't have enough time to complete the orders.

Each sheet of shaped palas leaf not only wraps the glutinous rice but also holds a story about the tradition she inherited from her mother, Salmah Ismail, 62.

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I, my eldest daughter, Nur Salmi Atirah Zulmuni, 25, and my mother work hand in hand to fulfil orders; we are a united team continuing the family legacy.

"Every Ramadan, orders keep pouring in, with some customers booking early, afraid of us running out. For them, this palas rice dumpling is not just food but a symbol of the true joy of Eid al-Fitr," she told Bernama today.

Not only catering to the local residents, Zainun's ketupat palas has now crossed the Kelantan borders, with customers coming from afar. Some prefer the rich coconut milk ketupat, while others choose the sweet ketupat that brings back childhood memories, with others opting for the peanut-filled ketupat or spicy serunding ketupat that tempts the palate with its fragrant aroma.

"...with the help of my mother and my child, in four hours we can prepare around four kilogrammes (kg) of ketupat. This work may look easy, but if the folds are not done neatly, the ketupat can open up while being boiled," she said.

Zainun said that the palas rice dumplings are sold at a price between RM1.40 and RM1.60 each,

"I always think, this ketupat is not just a morning Raya dish. It is love, hope, and a story that cannot just disappear.

"I hope my child will continue this tradition, so that every weaving of the palas leaf continues to hold stories, continues to be a part of Eid al-Fitr," she added.

--BERNAMA