To Pay Thanks To God
After 30 days of self-control comes the day to rejoice, to pay thanks to God and to help the poor, and spread the message of brotherhood to the world. All over the world the Muslims observe fasting, prayers, and the control of five senses during the pious month of Ramadan and on the first day of the succeeding month of Shawwal celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr by offering prayer to God, giving gifts and alms, having sumptuous meals, wearing new attires and greeting and embracing all irrespective of caste, color, creed, and status.
The joy of Eid is contagious. It is not a closed-door affair. Not only the Muslim community but the composite society feels the day special. Friends and acquaintances of the rozadars from other communities also visit their houses and rejoice together. In India and other countries of mixed population, not only the Muslims but the society as a whole wait during Ramadan anxiously for the moon of Eid and for celebrating Eid. I remember my adolescent days when I was particular to get new clothes stitched to share and enhance the pleasure of Eid with my Muslim friends.
Beautiful Picture Of This Peaceful Festival
Although the current global epidemic has forced us to follow physical distancing, everyone in his memory has a very beautiful picture of this peaceful festival spreading the feeling of amity and brotherhood. The get-together and the festivities. The fervor of the festival has compelled so many poets and writers to write their masterpieces. We cannot forget the touching story ‘Eidgaah’ written by Premchand, one of the greatest writers of Hindi as well as Urdu Literature. The moon of Eid has become a simile and metaphor- the much-awaited moment.
What we gather from the Muslim traditions Eid-ul-Fitr is a festival of forgiveness, exchange of love, celebration, and social gathering. It is needless to elaborate as every year we witness these four shining trends in our society. We embrace, we give gifts, we rejoice and we gather as members of the family or as friends on this auspicious day.
Eid Is Celebrated With The Same Gusto All Over The World
Eid is celebrated with the same gusto all over the world. In the USA, its postal services have issued postal stamps for many years – almost seven years-honoring this important festival. In different countries, different nomenclature is given to it. A few examples- in Indonesia Idul Fitri, in India Eid-ul-Fitr, in Bangladesh ShemaiEid. Malaysia Hari Raya Puasa/HariLebaran. In Turkey RamazanBayrami. Iran EydeFetr. In Singapore Hari Raya Aidilfitri/HariOtak/Hari Raya IdulFitri/Hari Raya Puasa in Brunei Hari Raya Aidilfitri/HariOtak/HariRaya IdulFitri/Hari Raya Puasa. And Pakistan, it is called Choti Eid.
But greatest of all, it is a day of thanksgiving to the Creator. The Quran says in its relevant ayat “and so that you may complete the number, and magnify Allah for guiding you, and that you may give thanks.”
So let’s all be thankful to our Creator for giving us the strength to face the calamities. Whenever they came and the power of retrospection to better our own selves. In these corona times. The sharing of our celebration may not be that conspicuous but hope. We’ll embrace our friends in the same way as we used to do.(written by sanjay kumar kundan )