A woman’s claim that Malaysians “overdo” Hari Raya has sparked over 3,000 comments online, with many netizens defending it as culture, not FOMO.

A woman’s opinion that Malaysians may be “overdoing” Hari Raya celebrations has sparked a heated debate online, with thousands of netizens defending local traditions.

The post, shared by Threads user @diari_ummi26, has drawn over 3,000 comments, as Malaysians weighed in on whether festive practices such as open houses, matching outfits and balik kampung culture are excessive.

In her post, she questioned if Malaysians celebrate Hari Raya more intensely than Muslims in other countries.

“I do think Malaysians make Hari Raya a little too much.

“Are there Muslims in other countries who celebrate as intensely as we do?

“Open house for a whole month, matching outfits, the food, duit raya, and the balik kampung culture.

“Just do what you can afford. If you can’t, don’t follow FOMO.”

Her remarks quickly triggered strong reactions, with many netizens disagreeing and defending the cultural significance of Raya in Malaysia.

Several users stressed that it is not about following trends, but about preserving tradition.

tasnim.mubarak wrote “It’s not FOMO. This is culture and tradition. If everyone just follows others, where is the value of our culture?”

suri.kayangan wrote “Tradition is not FOMO. If you don’t want to follow or don’t enjoy family gatherings, just keep quiet.”

Meanwhile, ninazainall embraced the festive spirit, saying “Yes, Malaysians, especially Sarawakians, love going all out for Raya. It’s not about FOMO, it’s about celebrating traditions.”

“Our Raya traditions existed long before the word FOMO even existed. Leave it alone because there’s nothing wrong with it,” kerol_fd added.

Others said the celebrations go beyond appearances and are rooted in family and meaningful connections.

iqa.ms wrote “Calling it ‘too much’ oversimplifies something that actually has a lot of meaning. Raya in Malaysia isn’t just about celebration, it’s about family and sharing blessings.

“Open house, balik kampung, matching outfits – these are ways people enjoy after a month of fasting.”

Some also highlighted the importance of balik kampung, especially for those working far from home.

“What’s wrong with balik kampung culture? Those of us working far away may only meet our siblings once or twice a year,” hid9884 commented.

“Raya comes once a year. We may not live long enough to see the next one. Visiting relatives and going back to the village is the best time, especially for those working far away,” norashikin194 added.

 The Sun Malaysia