Eid Ul Fitar

Festival:

'Eid, which means “festivity” in Arabic, is celebrated after the sighting of the new crescent on the previous evening. Eid ul-Fitr is the first of two celebrations in Islam. The second celebration is called Eid ul-Adha and falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hajj, which is the 12th month and occurs during the Hajj (pilgrimage).

The air of festivity and celebration can be felt on the eve before Éid when frenzied shopping and Éid preparations are at its height. Since Éid is celebrated with gift-giving, the highly decorated shops and markets are open till late at night for last minute shoppers. On the eve before Éid, women and children get together to decorate their hands with henna, (in the south Asian subcontinent this evening is also known as 'chand raat'.. chand means moon and raat means night.. the evening when Eid is confirmed for the following day, with the sighting of the crescent moon indicating the start of festivities). Staying up late preparing food for the next day, the whole house is a hub of activity and excitement.

The crazy excitement of the sighting of the crescent is worth experiencing... especially for children. As their excitement builds and rumors start of the sighting in some remote locale, as yet officially unconfirmed, their eyes shine with joy as they anticipate Eid and the typical preparations preceding Eid. Climbing on rooftops to get a glimpse of the crescent. The greatest rumor was that the Air Force had dispatched airplanes to sight the moon, awesome! They think of what they will wear, what gifts they will get and how they will spend their gift money to buy toys. Pretty exciting! And sometimes the disappointment when it is not confirmed... another fast, another day, and the next evening they are just as excited.

The 'Eid prayer is important for Muslims as it has the merits of the daily prayers and the weekly gathering (Jumu'ah). On the day of Eid, fasting is forbidden since this day marks the end of the month-long fast. Eid is a family and social event, after the Eid prayers people visit each other, exchange gifts, spend time socializing with extended family and community, visiting the sick and offering prayers for the deceased.