By Rozlin Rusharmeen Rosmin

KUCHING, March 10 (Bernama) -- It is customary for Muslims here to visit the graves of their dearly departed before the arrival of the Ramadan month, a practice known as ‘mengabas kubur’.

Besides reciting supplications, visitors will also clean up the surrounding area, which sparked a business idea for a homemaker sixteen years ago to make sandalwood-infused water for visitors to pour on the graves of their kin.

Nur Islam Jobli, 46, said she would prepare and bottle the water before taking them to the cemetery.

“We used to fill the sandalwood water in plastic bags. We sell it during the fasting month or Hari Raya because many people would visit the graves then,” she told Bernama when met at the Semariang Muslim Cemetery today.

Opened in 1982, Semariang Muslim Cemetery is the largest Muslim cemetery in Sarawak, spanning 25 hectares with over 16,000 graves.

Besides the scented water, the mother of four sells potpourri priced at RM5 per bag.

Assisted by her daughter, Nur Islam said they would start selling at 7 am, adding that daily sales can reach over RM300, equivalent to 60 bottles of sandalwood water.

“If it rains, fewer people come to buy, but on good weather days, many would visit the graves,” she added.

-- BERNAMA