The joy of Hari Raya Aidilfitri took on a deep significance as more than 100,000 visitors of various races came to celebrate the occasion at the Open House of Prime Minister Najib Razak and cabinet members at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya.

The spirit of 1Malaysia clearly shone on the faces of those who came from various levels of society to join in the occasion together with their Muslim friends who welcomed Aidilftri today.

Although the open house was due to start at 11.30 am, visitors had already started arriving by 8.00 in the morning to avoid any congestion and take the opportunity to shake hands and wish Najib dan wife, Rosmah Mansor, "Selamat Hari Raya".

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife, Noorainee Abdul Rahman as well as other cabinet ministers joined in the once-a-year celebration.

Nobody seemed affected by the queue to enter and offer their handshake even when it got past three in the afternoon. The open house ended around 5pm.

For one guest, Aminah Husin, 49, who came with her husband and two daughters, she said she never missed the Prime Minister's open house and always turned up for them even from the time of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

A trader from Nilai, she said the travelling involved to Putrajaya was not an issue to join in the Hari Raya celebration with the nation's leader.

For another guest, Seyedeh Motieh, 35, from Iran, it was a first experience. The housewife, who came with her husband, said the open house culture was not practiced in Iran, and she was glad to be attending her first such event.

For Cheah Wan Ning, 25, who also tried fasting during the Ramadan, it was a special occasion celebrating the day with her Muslim friends.

Rosmah sings for guests

Good music from various languages, some rendered by Rosmah herself, also filled the Seri Perdana dining hall, adding on to the enjoyment of the guests already being treated to a sumptuous spread of dishes and delicacies.

Outside Seri Perdana, more than 20 camps complete with chairs and tables had been set up for the people to dine and watch a stage show put up by local artistes.

A large screen had been also put up to enable the people to follow on "live", the activities at Seri Perdana for the day.

Many also took the opportunity to take photographs but most of all, the guests, comprising children, teenagers as well as adults and senior citizens were seen chatting and interacting with each other, making the event a truly meaningful one.

- Bernama