As the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, the festival marking the end of the Muslim holy month also arrives. Depending on the sighting of the moon, Eid celebrations will be held on Wednesday, June 5 in India.
Before we celebrate the festival with fervour and enthusiasm, let’s know everything about Eid-al-Fitr
What is Eid-al-Fitr
Eid-al-Fitr means “Festival of breaking the fast” and it marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. However, the number of vacation days varies by country but Eid is celebrated for three days an official holiday in all Muslim majority countries.
How to determine Eid
Eid-al-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the new moon like it is the case in Ramadan. The Muslims have to wait until the night before Eid to verify the date of the festival. If the new moon is not visible then the month lasts 30 days.
The date of the festival changes annually on the Gregorian calendar and varies from country to country depending upon the location.
The testimonies of the local moon sighters are known to declare the festival of Eid in Muslim majority countries.
When the sighting is verified the declaration of the festival is declared on television, radio stations and at mosques.
How EId is celebrated
The festival is celebrated by offering prayers which are followed by a short sermon soon after dawn. While in some countries the prayers take place in mosques or large halls, in many countries it is held in the open.
After the Eid prayers, people congratulate one another as they head home. They spend the day visiting relatives and neighbours accepting sweets moving from house to house.
Also, alms to the poor, or zakat is given the poor, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.
The cities are decorated with festive lights and carnivals are also held to commemorate the end of the holy month. Children are dressed in new clothes and they are offered gifts and money on the fervour occasion.
There is a traditional dessert and sweet that is prepared before Eid or on the morning of the first day. This food ranges from special biscuits and bread to cakes and pudding.
On the first day of Eid, voluntary fasting is not allowed as Muslims are encouraged to feast and celebrate the completion of a month of worship and forbearing from food.
Also in some countries, families visit graveyards to offer respect to the family members who have departed.
What are the greetings of Eid
The most popular greeting to wish on the festival is “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed Eid) or “Eid said” (Happy Eid). Aso, Eid greetings vary depending on the country and the language.
For instance, in Indonesia, Eid is called Lebaran, so Indonesians would say, “Selamat Lebaran”, which means Happy Eid. Other variations of Happy Eid are “Mutlu Bayramlar” in Turkish and “Barka da Sallah” in Hausa, a Nigerian language.
Traditions associated with Eid
Eid has a set of customs that are associated with the festival. Muslims prepare for Eid prayer by taking a shower and dressing in new clothes.
With clothes being an important marker of Eid, some people wear traditional clothes from their culture, while others pick out something new to wear.
Muslims also eat something sweet, usually dates, before heading to the Eid prayers.
On their way to the prayer, traditionally held in an open area, Muslims recite takbeerat, praising God by saying “Allahu Akbar”, meaning God is great.
Following the prayer, family elders distribute cash or gifts to the children which are often referred to as ‘Eidi’
Eid Moon Sighting 2019 in Kerala: Crescent not Sighted, Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated on Wednesday
