Celebrate an Eid Day (Eid ul Fitr)
Eid ul Fitr is the festival of fast-breaking and is celebrated at the end of Ramadhan, in the month of Shawwal. It is celebrated for three days, and on the morning of the first day, Muslims gather for prayer. The festival begins with the sighting of the new moon and is usually announced on the radio and on TV. Eid is also infused with different traditions in different countries. Eid ul Fitr is a very joyous occasion for all Muslims and they celebrate the festival in many ways. Most people use the three days of Eid for visitations. Other traditions include the Eidiyah, money given to kids on Eid, and wearing new clothes.
It begins with the first sighting of the new moon, so most of the time Muslims have to wait until the night before Eid to verify its date. Early in the morning, everyone starts getting ready. Eid traditionally starts with prayers followed by a short sermon. In some countries, the prayers take place outside, while others are hosted in mosques or large halls. Especially the children seem very happy. Their faces gleam with innocent, pleasure when they wear shining new clothes. After wearing new clothes and shoes, the men and children join Eid prayers. The people meet with each other and exchange good wishes / ‘Mubarak’ after prayers. People then visit relatives, friends, and sometimes graveyards to pray for their dead. After meeting with neighbors and friends, they return home to enjoy themselves with sweet noodles (Saviyyan) and many other delicious things. People go to the houses of each other / relatives to wish them ‘Eid Mubarak’.
Muslims usually clean the house as a sign of purity and decorate it. Many Muslim women prepare special foods, for example, samosas. Cards are usually sent, amongst gifts and sweets for children. Also, on the day, Muslims bathe, shower, and put on new clothes. They attend a congregational prayer in the mosque, and a special sermon is given to Muslims that attend. The Imam talks about the importance of giving to the poor. An important marker of Eid is the clothes. Some would wear clothes from their culture, while others would pick out something new to wear. Families and friends gather together and share a meal. They also exchange gifts and cards and wish each other a happy Eid Mubarak. Many Muslims also visit the graves of relatives that have died and this unites the ummah, the brotherhood of Islam, and reminds them of their preparation towards the Day of Judgment. In Islamic countries, Eid ul Fitr is a 3 day holiday.
Eid is a gift of Almighty Allah for all Muslims, therefore, it must be celebrated in a befitting manner. This is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which celebration up the foundation of Muslim fitr. The pillars consist of the oneness of God, five daily prayers, giving to charity, making a pilgrimage to the celebration land Mecca fitr fasting. However, simplicity may also be kept in mind. We must also remember the poor and needy people on this auspicious day because it gives us the lesson of sacrifice.
