The Eid ul Fitar is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims. For Muslims, Eid ul Fitar is a joyous day since it is an opportunity for them to offer thanksgiving.
As a true Thanksgiving Day, Muslims show appreciation to Allah for their opportunities in life, strength, and good health. They also give thanks to Allah for the fulfillment of their obligations such as good deeds and fasting during the blessed month of Ramadan.
Eid ul Fitr is the most awaited festival of the country. It is celebrated on the 1st of Shawal the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Eid ul Fitr is celebrated to commemorate the end of Ramadan. Ramadan, the 9th Islamic month, is the month of fasting.
Muslims are directed not only to abstain from food and drink but also from sex, carnal thoughts, anger, lies, betrayal, deception and other weaknesses. Fasting is mainly to purify a person physically and spiritually. On the 29th of Ramadan, people gather on their roof tops to sight the moon.
The sighting of the moon is followed by a burst of joy and festivity which lasts for three days. The name of Eid ul Fitar is derived from two Arabic words, “Eid” and “Fitr”. Eid means “festivity” while Fitr refers to charity or nature.
This religious festival is an entire day of celebration for Muslims. It is often called the “Smaller Eid” since the “Greater Eid”. The cries of “Eid Mubarak” (Happy Eid) fill the air. The night prior to Eid is called “chand raat”.
It is specially enjoyed by the young people who rush to the malls for last minute shopping. Girls adorn their hands with beautiful henna patterns and buy glass bangles which match with their suits.
On Eid morning, men go to the mosques to offer special Eid prayers. The women offer their prayers at home. The women prepare special dishes like sweet vermicelli cooked in milk and dry fruits and spicy chick peas etc. Everybody dresses up in new clothes. The elders give eiddie (a sum of money) to the younger ones.
Relatives, friends and neighbors visit each other. The poor are not ignored on this joyful day. Most of the families give new clothes to their servants. The servants are also given eiddie. Money is given as charity throughout the month of Ramadan to help the poor and the needy. Eid ul Fitr is a very important day which brings happiness to all and is celebrated with fervor by all.
