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In the spirit of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru makes it a yearly mission to distribute free packs of bubur lambuk as a way to give back to the community. In 2023, they’re back in action, as expected.
Bubur lambuk is a savoury rice porridge that’s often cooked with meat and a variety of spices. It has become a Ramadan staple in Malaysia, so much so that you’ll probably find multiple stalls at your local Ramadan bazaar that sell the dish. Masjid Jamek has been using the same 100 year-old recipe ever since they started this initiative years ago.
Every day, around 30 volunteers gather at the mosque at 3am to begin prepping for the day. They’re usually done cooking 15 large pots of porridge by 11am, ready to be packed and distributed to the public after Asar prayers.
Masjid Jamek gives out about 3,500 packs of bubur lambuk daily from 5pm onwards, and you can see everyone from all walks of life come up to receive a free portion— from those who stop by to perform their prayers to those who happen to stumble upon the mosque at the right time. They even have a drive-thru to allow people to collect their free porridge without having to leave their cars.
Everyone is welcome to bring a pack home regardless of race and religion. Though, the porridge is cooked with beef, so those who eat beef are unfortunately unable to eat this classic delicacy.
The mosque uses an estimated 5 to 6 tonnes of rice every Ramadan. Their monthly cost is equally astounding— roughly RM350,000! They stated that it’s difficult to get sponsors nowadays due to the current economic climate. However, they are still determined to carry out this project and continue the tradition.
Other than distributing the savoury rice porridge for free, Masjid Jamek also hosts iftar events where residents and mosque goers break their fast together before performing prayers.
Ramadan is a month to celebrate selflessness, generosity, and community, and Masjid Jamek is playing their part well.
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