The most awaited time is when the Eid festivities are about to begin. The shops and the malls sparkle with an enthusiastic zeal displaying their best stuff for their consumers. Explicitly, the kids are enthralled with the delight of rejoicing with their folks on Eid. Nearly everyone is raptured with materialising the plans of spending the Eid holidays.
Even so, fancy feasts and dressing up in ravishing outfits form a pivotal part of Eid celebrations, but that is just the cherry on the cake.
Here are some lesser-known yet interesting facts about Eid.
Eids are two and they are different. The word Eid means ‘feast’ or ‘festival’. Two types of Eid are principally celebrated; Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha. Eid al Fitr marks the end of the month of fasting, that is Ramadhan and is celebrated on day one of the months of Shawwal of the lunar calendar. Eid al Adha comes a couple of months later and is symbolic of the festival of sacrifice. Hence, both Eids often referred to synonymously stand out differently.
Eid is celebrated on different dates and time zones.
Owing to the sightings of the new crescent moon as per different geographic corners of the world Eid falls on different dates and time zones across the globe.
One cannot observe the fast on the day of Eid.
As Eid al Fitr comes to an end of fasting period hence, it is not permissible to observe fast on the day of Eid al Fitr. The fast is broken by having a date first thing in the morning.
It is about putting on the best attire that one possesses and not only the new one!
So that those who are unfortunate can get their share of festivity too by putting on their best possessions and are not compelled to purchase a new one out of their means.
Incomplete without zakat ul fitr so that the poor can celebrate.
A certain amount of charity is obligatory on capable Muslims before the Eid prayers for the needy and less privileged so that they too can celebrate Eid.
A time to remember the departed dear ones.
People visit the cemetery and offer prayers for their departed dear ones as a symbol of remembrance.
Meeting up with people to spread joy and warmth
Eid begins with performing the ghusl (ceremonial bath) followed by Eid prayers with a prominent emphasis on peace and prosperity for the entire humanity and relief for the destitute and unfortunate. Exchanging gifts and greetings and visiting the kith and kin to express gratitude and spreading harmony is a cardinal part of Eid festivities.
Eid is known by different names around the world.
For instance, ‘Ramazan Bairami’ in Azerbaijan, ‘Korite’ in Senegal, ‘Lebaran’ in Indonesia, and ‘Hari Raya Puasa’ in Malaysia.
The essence of Eid lies in carrying forward the discipline and steadfastness observed through fasting during Ramadhan, practicing gratitude, and making sure that the lesser and weaker sections of society are not left behind.
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