Celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr
YI desk
Its that time of the year again. The shopping is almost over and the gifts have been distributed. Eid-Ul-Fitr is just around the corner and it arrives after a whole month of fasting and self-control during Ramzan. Its time to get dressed in new outfits, over-indulge in food and meet with friends and relatives you havent seen for at least a year. Thus the ritual starts all over again. Eid-ul-Fitr, is a festival observed by the Muslims to celebrate the conclusion of the month of fasting. Eid-ul-Fitr literally refers to festival of breaking the fast. Eid is celebrated on the first date of Shawwal, that is, the tenth month of the Hijri calendar.
Before the advent of Islam in Arabia, there is a mention of festivals as well as some others among the Arabs. It is observed on the first of the month of Shawwal at the end of the month of Ramzan, during which Muslims undergo a period of fasting. According to certain traditions, these festivals were initiated in Medina after the migration of Muhammad (SM) from Mecca.
Both the festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Azha are occasions for showing gratitude to Allah and remembering Him, and are an occasion of entertainment. The entire country observes the holiday by performing the obligatory Eid prayers on the morning of Eid, giving zakat. fitra and visiting friends and relatives. Ladies decorate their hands with henna, dressing up in new clothes and having a good meal with family and friends are popular customs of Eid in Bangladesh.
During the chand raat (the evening before Eid ) the streets come alive even before the sighting of the moon is announced. Anticipation and excitement take people to the streets. On this night whether you are on the footpaths or main road in the luxury of your cars you cannot avoid the rush. This is one time that many do not mind the rush. Areas tucked in and around old Dhaka and downtown are blaring with several popular songs, sirens and firecrackers especially loved by the youngsters.
On this day we wear our best clothes and offer congregational prayers at maidans or mosques. After offering the prayers we exchange good wishes of the festival with the neighbours and other people through an embrace. An indispensable part of the festivity is the delicious food and drinks served while people decorate their houses and prepare tasty traditional sweets and cuisines to celebrate the festival. The most common recipe in this festival is the delicious Shemai (sweet vermicelli) prepared from various healthy and mouth-watering ingredients. As we grow up, our emotions evolve and undergo different phases in the way that we experience Eid. We may reminisce and dig up memories of the past and will be astonished to realize how different Eid was then to what it is now. The day of Eid goes from a day of wearing your new clothes to the day you try out half a dozen places hanging out with friends and family.
Eid is a time when the young put their school and college books aside and put forward their best and colorful punjabis, shoes, sandals, etc. Hanging out and shouting out in joy all around that Eid is here once again! Hurray! Running to their favorite spots or doing their favorite activities like watching movies and hanging out with school friends as well as eating out. However, synonymous the experiences and feelings during Eid yet they are different in different spheres of society in Bangladesh.
