A celebration of oneness

From sumptuous feasts to festivities and catching up with family, the city is all geared up for Eid this year.
For Muslims all around the world, Eid is a day of celebration, an end to a long month of discipline and fasting. A three-day festival, Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated with great zest and pomp. The word Eid translates to ‘festivity’ while Fitr means ‘breaking the fast’.And hence, this is a day when Muslims around the world try to show unity through one day of festivity. The setting is perfect with family, friends, gifts and food (a LOT of it!) around. Over the years, the way we celebrate Eid has taken a turn, with youngsters bringing about much change in the way they wish and celebrate.
Keisha Camilla, a medical student, says. “We have been having puttu and mutton curry on Eid morning for as far as I can remember. Eid prayers are of course an important part of the day. Later, I’ll be skyping all my friends around the world,” grins Keisha. Skyping and video conferencing are a big part of Eid celebrations now since loved ones cannot make it home in time for the big day. Instead, families get together for a session of video conferencing with their relatives, who are celebrating Eid in some other part of the world. Distance may play foul but the spirit never dies when it comes to celebrating Eid.
Shereefa Abdul Rahman, a dental student, prides in the fact that she is a true blue Malayali muslim. “I woke up to the aroma of Malappuram biriyani. You know your day’s going to be different when that happens,” smiles Shereefa. For her, a typical Eid day starts off with prayers, a new dress and wishing family members. “This Eid, thankfully, I am with my family. But there have been times when I’ve been away at college and that’s when I miss home and the food the most.” For her, a typical breakfast is puttu, banana and pappadum. “I think it’s different everywhere — this culture of Eid breakfast. And I think it is very heartwarming to know that Eid is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the country,” she adds.
The custom of Eidi (Eid money) is something children usually never forget. At the end of Eid lunch, the elders in the family give money to the young ones (usually after a lot of pestering). Talking about his Eid, Feroze Kareem, a project co-ordinator, says, “I started fasting when I was seven and that is a very young age to discipline yourself. So, on Eid, it was like all my senses broke loose! Eid brings about a sense of belonging because you are with family. I have more than six uncles from whom I get Eidi. So, for me Eid is pay-day! Later, in the evening we meet friends and burst crackers and probably get chased away by the neighbours for making too much noise. But hey, that’s how you celebrate.”