My name is Urooj. Pakistan is my home town, but currently I am living in New Zealand. Today is Eid day, “Eid-ul-fitar”, the feast of breaking the fast. It marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month is which Muslims have to fast from sunrise to sunset. It is also called “sweet festival” or “sugar feast” because sugar sweet dishes are one of the main traditional items of that day. “Sheer khurma” is the famous sweet dish which is specially prepared from milk, vermicelli noodles, sugar and dried fruits. This sweet dish is cooked in almost all houses. Eid-ul-fitar is also called “lesser eid” because there is another eid that comes at the end of Islamic months and mark the pilgrimage of Haj.
Muslims start Eid day with prayer to say thanks to their God that they have passed the holy month of fasting with blessing. The purpose of Eid is to show happiness and to give as much charity as possible. Money is distributed to poor and needy people before the Eid prayer so that they can also be part of the celebration.
Although every Islamic country has different ways to celebrate this festival, Eid has been celebrated enthusiastically and happily by every Muslim. For Eid, people buy new dresses, shoes, jewellery and they distribute gifts and eid cards among family members and friends. Girls also apply henna on their hands which is a temporary form of skin decoration.
On Eid, elders give “Eidi” which is a small amount of money to their children and youngsters, so children and youngsters might be the richest age group on that day.
Islamic countries usually give 3 or 4 holidays to celebrate this big event but in New Zealand, people celebrate this event on the next nearest weekend. There are many Muslims living here in New Zealand who belong to different parts of the world. They celebrate Eid by means of arranging gatherings for lunch and dinner, and conducting games for children. Some of them try to go back to their country to celebrate this festival with their relatives and friends.
Vocabulary
• a fast, fasting (n) – going without food
• pilgrimage – a religious journey
• holy – religious
• charity – giving (money) to the poor or needy
• distribute – give to many people, deliver
• henna – red colour
• to conduct games – organise games