Eid-Al-Fitra, or Meethi Eid or simply Eid, marks the end of a long day of fasting in the holy month of Ramazan or Ramadan and is also known as the ‘festival of breaking the fast.’ The Eid festival is a time for celebration with family, friends, and loved ones. But it is much more than that! Eid is a time for reflection and compassion. On Eid, we share our happiness, meals, and wealth with needy people by giving compulsory charity before offering their Eid namaz. We also provide gifts to the young ones, invite people to dinner, and much more. It is how Muslims celebrate Eid. Month-long fasting introduces us to the power of restraint and control. It teaches us to taste hunger and how it feels to be famished. It acquaints us with resilience. Moreover, it teaches us to practice sympathy, empathy, and compassion
It is the essence of Eid!
So how do Muslims celebrate Eid?
I will tell you my story about how I celebrate Eid.
The last day of fasting during Ramadan officially marks Eid’s onset. So, we open the fast quickly and rush to the rooftop to get a glimpse of the new Moon. But spotting the new slender crescent Moon is a tough job and requires a thorough scanning of the sky to spot it. If lucky, you can spot the new Moon. The spotting of the Moon is an official confirmation of Eid.
As a tradition, my mother says salam to the Moon after spotting it.
“Chand Mubarak ho beta (happy sighting the moon)” are my father’s words every year at the very sight of the beautiful crescent. We then make the supplication or dua for spotting the Moon and wish everyone in family and friends “Chand Raat Mubarak” (happy night of the Moon). It officially means no more fasting from tomorrow and marks the beginning of Eid celebrations.
Back in my hometown, Lucknow, people start wishing each other via messages, calls, and social posts after spotting the Moon. People rush outside their homes for Eid shopping, eating, and loitering around. The markets get packed and are open the entire night. You can spot fireworks and fancy lights sparkling all around the city to add to the festive vibes.
The Chand Raat or Eid eve is special for everyone. Women and younger girls apply traditional mehndi or henna on their palms and feet. They shop for new bangles, pieces of jewelry, and clothes. Men also flock to the markets to eat tikkas, tea, and special paan (betel).
The helter-skelter of the kitchen is a site to watch. Indeed, the kitchen is the most happening place in the whole house. Women of the house spend most of their time preparing traditional dishes for the guests and the poor. At the same time, the men get busy decorating and rearranging the house for tomorrow’s big get-together.
At my home, Eid Morning starts early, at 5 AM, as we have to get up to bathe, freshen up and then get ready for Eid Namaz. Men and women wear new clothes and apply Itra (perfume oil) and Surma (antimony) on the eyes.
Men then rush to the Mosque for the obligatory Eid prayers, and women offer the same at home.
Before Eid prayers, everyone must contribute to a mandatory charity known as ‘fitra’ to validate the Namaz or prayer. Many people also avail themselves of this opportunity to distribute Zakat, an Islamic obligatory alms tax of 2.5% of one’s annual savings, to the needy. We distribute the Zakat through money, food, and new clothes.
After the Namaz, ‘Dua’ (supplication) is made in the larger interest of humanity, followed by the traditional Eid greeting of Eid Mubarak, meaning to have a blessed Eid. This greeting involves hugging people around us thrice, followed by a formal embrace.
Outside the Mosque, people assemble in the flea market and buy things like balloons for kids, dates, and other sweets from the poor to help and support them.
After the Eid prayers, it is common in our families to visit graveyards and pray for the salvation of departed family members and remember them. I do not remember missing my supplication at the cemetery for the last 15 years, except for the years spent in the lockdown.
After the Namaz, we return home only to be welcomed by women with celebratory Eid dishes. Festival means food, and the same is true for Eid. My mom prepares sweet and savory dishes that we relish the entire day. One such dish worth mentioning is Sivayyan (fresh sweet vermicelli noodles with dry fruits and milk). Eid is synonymous with Sivayyan. But the platter is wider than that, and you can expect other traditional dishes as well.
In my family, the Eid buffet is a lavish spread of Sivayyans, chole, dahi phulki, papdi chaat, dry fruits, shahi tukda for vegetarian options, and kababs, mutton korma, naan, biryani, fried chicken for non-vegetarians.
Talking about Sivayyans, my family specializes in two forms of Sivayyan – the kemam (dry Sivayyan) and sheer khurma (milk-based Sivayyan cooked overnight). The name meethi Eid often comes from the tradition of serving Sivayyans.
The most exciting part of the Eid Festival is receiving gifts that we call Eidi (often money) from the elders and parents. These gifts usually include cash, new clothes, food items, and gadgets. But the primary source of excitement is the competition among children about who gets the maximum Eidi.
Everyone gets Eidi, which is more of a right than a privilege!
For us, the festival of Eid always means a momentous, happy, and joyous occasion shared with family and friends, Muslim and non-Muslim alike. We invite our neighbors, friends, and relatives to be part of our celebration. It is also customary to send traditional food to our close friends, families, and neighbors. In my hometown, many people visit us to wish us and be a part of our festival. And we greet our friends and guests with a hug and Itra or perfume oil as a gesture of our warm welcome.
Our Eid usually ends with a formal family dinner with close friends and relatives. It is normal to feel tired at the end of the day, but excitement keeps you going.
Last year I missed my family, friends, and relatives back home due to the lockdown. It didn’t feel nice, but then I coped up. I realized that Eid is not just about celebrating with family and friends but also a reminder and expression of being a better person in all aspects of life- health, spirituality, belief, and faith!
I was always hopeful that Allah would bless this world with peace, harmony, and good health. And today, we are reunited and celebrating Eid with family and friends again.
So, this is how the Muslims celebrate Eid; it was my story of how I celebrate Eid with my loved ones.
I hope I was able to give you a sneak peek into what it feels like to be part of the Eid celebrations.
How to celebrate Eid?
Eid teaches you to laugh and love. But it also teaches you to share with others. So how to celebrate Eid and how do Muslims celebrate eid?
- Prepare for Eid and greet each other as soon as you sight the Moon.
- Take a shower, look your best, wear new clothes, smell fresh, and smile.
- Offer Eid Namaz and give obligatory charity to someone in need before the Namaz.
- Relish traditional Eid food, sweets, and dishes.
- Share your food with your family and friends. Invite them and visit them. If they can’t come, send them the festival food.
- Give charity to the poor and share your happiness with them.
- Give gifts or Eidi to young people.
- Celebrate the rest of the day and be thankful to God for the happiness and food on your platter.
So now you know how do Muslims celebrate Eid! If you have been part of the Eid celebrations and want to share your experiences, please feel free to share them with us in the comment section below. Also, please feel free to share this post with your loved ones. You can visit our YouTube channel if you want to watch some life-changing and thought-provoking videos.
