Celebrating Eid

The holy month of Ramadan started on April 3rd this year and will end after sighting the new moon on May 2nd, marking the celebration of Eid-al-Fitr on the first day of the subsequent month, Shawwal.

Eid marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, considered to be one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar. This is a beautiful month of forgiveness, fasting, charity and purification of the soul. During this month Muslims across the world make conscious efforts to focus on worship and complete a recitation of the Holy Quran.

“Special night prayers known as Taraveeh are offered during this month. Eid-al-Fitr is a special day for Muslims, marking the end of Ramadan. It is a day of celebration and joy. Eid greetings are exchanged among friends and family. A feast is prepared across households to celebrate the day. Growing up, Eid was spent with my parents and extended family. After I got married it has been spent with my in-laws. The last few Eids during the pandemic were low key due to restrictions. This year it is going to be about my grandchildren and is a joyful time of the year for us,” says Hyderabad based homemaker Sarah Alam Khan.

Giving Matters

The Eid celebration begins with the sighting of the new moon, by a donation to the poor and needy, from every adult Muslim who possesses food more than their needs, on their behalf and on behalf of dependents in their household. This ‘Fitra’ which is calculated based on today’s basic cost of living at appropriately Rs 200 per person is to be given to the poor before Eid, the idea behind this being that every Muslim will be able to celebrate the festival in their homes with their family. “Ramadan is an auspicious month of the Islamic calendar when the holy Quran was revealed. The key purpose of Ramadan is to commit ourselves to get closer to God. It’s a time to practice self-restraint by fasting from dawn to dusk throughout the month. We reduce worldly distractions to focus on religious acts such as prioritizing recitation of the holy Quran, and voluntary prayers during the nights apart from the obligatory prayers. We also empathize with the less fortunate people by way of Zakath — a compulsory charitable act, required of every able Muslim to donate, 2.5% of their wealth beyond a minimum amount of 84g of 24KT gold of wealth a Muslim may possess, before being eligible to donate,” says Sabah Shirazi, a social worker based in Chennai.

Family Connections

Fashion Designer Rehane.

Eid-al-Fitr mornings begin with a short obligatory prayer at the mosque and followed by meeting and greeting family and friends. Children and adults alike look forward to dressing up and receiving Eid gifts. Traditional food that varies in each country is prepared and served at home and shared in the neighbourhood. Chennai based, award winning Fashion Designer Rehane says, “Ramzan, to me, signifies discipline and devotion. This Ramzan, I have fasted for almost all the days and for me, it is not too difficult as I fast two days a week every week (throughout the year). For Eid, there are many things that are personal to each family. Generally, we congregate at our in-laws’ house and have a scrumptious Eid spread that consists of biryani, raan, chicken kebabs, naan and at least two or three types of traditional desserts. Prayers are held at the thousand lights mosque which the family attends together.”

Eid is the time that is reserved for family and friends. “Through the day of Eid, and up to three days is spent with family and meeting up with relatives and friends who we hardly meet during the year round due to our busy schedules. As a child, I used to look forward to Eid to wear new clothes, dress up and get my Eid gifts collected from all the elders for being a dutiful child in worship. It was a day we met all our cousins and enjoyed the day,” reminisces Shirazi.

It’s a feast

Aqsa with her husband.

Food is an important part of the festivities and Eid is when families go the whole hog. Aqsa, Hyderabad based passionate chef says, “Eid is a very festive time for our family. We look forward to it. It is a day of feasting after a whole month of fasting. Having offered the Eid prayers, the family gathers over a scrumptious meal, dressed in their best attire. The elders give the little ones ‘Eidi’. Friends and extended family visit us in the evening. My fond memories of it as a child are celebrating it with all my cousins in the joint family and enjoying many cups of Sheer Khurma. Life has come a full circle now as I watch my grandchildren visit me and relish the Sheer Khurma I make and wait for their Eidi.” With the dark clouds of the pandemic parting, this is sure to be an Eid to remember.