Raya-themed Camping Fosters Community Spirit

By Norhidayyu Zainal

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) -- The glow of campfires, rows of oil lamps and the aroma of traditional Hari Raya delicacies set the scene for a camping experience during the Payung.camp Regional Campmeet 2026, held from April 17 to 19.

The programme, organised by Payung.Camp Community Malaysia, involved 800 to 1,000 campers and their families who camped in 201 tents in seven separate locations in the central, northern, southern and east coast zones of the peninsula, and Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

(Payung.Camp Community Malaysia is a Facebook-based camping community run by Payung.camp, a camping gear brand.)

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Payung.camp Regional Campmeet 2026 operations director Khairil Izwan Mahyudin said the event, themed ‘One Community, One Brotherhood – Raya together with Payung.Camp Community Malaysia’, aimed to strengthen bonds within the community through face-to-face interaction.

He said Payung.Camp Community Malaysia, established in December 2022, has grown to nearly 60,000 members via its official Facebook platform.

“This is our fourth annual event and the largest so far, bringing participants together to share camping experiences with their families while enjoying the festive Hari Raya atmosphere in a natural setting,” he told Bernama.

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Over the three-day event, each zone hosted a variety of Raya-themed activities, including communal (gotong-royong) preparation of traditional dishes, Aidilfitri-inspired tent decorations, the lighting of oil lamps, and small-scale fireworks displays.

Khairil Izwan, who camped with his family at Wooris campsite in Janda Baik, Bentong, Pahang, said the programme also featured a Raya feast, with participants encouraged to wear traditional attire and even distribute duit raya to children.

He added that organising simultaneous events across seven locations posed challenges, particularly in coordinating committees in each zone.

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“We were also mindful of the weather conditions and the selection of suitable campsites to ensure the comfort and safety of participants, especially with children and families involved,” he said.

He expressed hope that similar programmes would continue in the future as a platform to strengthen community ties while offering participants a chance to unwind and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere over the weekend.

The event also drew camping influencers and content creators such as Pakcik Camping, Ez Hadiff, Esh Homes and Nohas TV.

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Meanwhile, Payung.camp Regional Campmeet 2026 central zone head Aizuddin Azali, who camped with his family at Dusun Apak Kawww campsite in Batang Kali, Selangor, described the Hari Raya celebrations at the campsite as a refreshing experience that revived a sense of togetherness rarely felt today.

“It was a truly different experience for the participants. Many were reminded of the past when entire villages would come together to prepare food,” he said.

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Despite weather challenges, he noted that the strong community spirit remained evident, with participants acting spontaneously without the need for detailed instructions.

“One of the most meaningful moments was the communal effort to build a ‘balai raya’ stage using bamboo sourced from the surrounding area, creating a kampung-like atmosphere within nature.

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“Even when tasked with building a wooden bench, participants instinctively knew how to design and complete it. The same went for cooking rendang… some immediately lit the firewood, while others set up the wok and prepared the spices… everything took place spontaneously,” said Aizuddin, a government employee.

He hoped that such programmes would continue as a platform to strengthen bonds, revive the spirit of togetherness and create lasting memories.

-- BERNAMA