Fragrance of perfumes, shining of new dresses, beauty of hennas on the hands and of course the self satisfaction of completing thirty fasts...... Kerala Muslims are enjoying their Eid-ul-fitr very grandly. All people both mentally and physically prepared to welcome the Eid by the eve of 30th fast itself. People are busy with giving Zakaths (compulsory donation of food grains by each Muslim) to deserved people.
Men engaged in purchasing needy things for Eid day’s delicious food in the eve of last fast meanwhile women engaged in wearing mehanthi on their hands. They will assemble in someone’s house and a girl who is an expert in mehanti designing will draw different designs on her friend’s hands. It may last up to the dawn of eid day.
In the morning of Eid, people will go to Eid Gahs (Specially arranged place to offer Eid namaz). After the namaz they would greet each other and would visit the graveyard of their relatives to pray for them. People would convey ‘EID MUBARAK’ to everyone and hug each other. There would be a speech, of Imams (one who lead the namaz), in which imams will talk about how people can keep the purity of fasting throughout the whole life.
 |
| Girls enjoy the beauty of Mehanthi on the eve of Eid. Photo courtesy : sasthamcotta.wordpress.com |
People would come back to their home from the Eid Gahs. Most probably every house would have many guests. After exchanging some conversations they would start to have their delicious lunch with special items. Non vegtable food has a prominent place in the dining table of eid day.
The eve of Eid would be celebrated by visiting the relatives and friends. But nowadays the delight of togetherness lacks in almost all family. The new trend in eid celebration is visiting the beaches and hilly areas with friends. The old says that new generation are interested only making tours not to visit their relatives on Eid day. “ Eid is the occasion of seeing and visiting your relatives, especially people like your grandmother and grandfather. It gives pleasure to them. They can’t visit you people because they are old.” Says Usman, a retired UP school teacher. “The coming of nuclear family system in the society has adversely affected all our celebrations.” Opined a retired sociology professor Muraleedhran. According to him the togetherness and harmony among the family members are decreasing day by day and it can be seen in all the celebrations whether it is Eid or Onam or Christmas.
But the youth says that the trip with the friends is inevitable. “We are planning the trip when the Ramzan begins itself. All my friends are taking part in the tour. How can I leave alone?” asks 20 year old Askar. “The problem is we do not have that much holidays to take in part both family visit and tour. So we opt tour and we often visit our relatives but we organise tour only on Eid days.” Khaleel Ahmmed, a final year B.Com student explains his stance.
Contrary to boys, girls wish to visit their relatives on Eid days. “ Eid is an opportunity to us to meet all my cousins and relatives. After we changed our house to the town, I really missed my cousins and friends. I use Eid to visit and stay with them.” Jasmine, 2nd year BA Student told.
Large families who has acquired name and fame in the society, they organises family get together on the eve of Eid.
For the last two years, youth also organised EID EVES in different places all over Kerala. Different people from different sects come together and share their Eid experiences with the assembled. “Many people are spending their time not worthy on the eve of Eid. Then we decide to use this time to interact each other irrespective to our religion, cast and political parties.” Said K.Nisamudheen, secretary of Eleven Lion’s Club, who organised an Eid eve which was inaugurated by the MLA. According to him this type of events helps the society to know each other and helps the religious harmony.
Anyhow Eid is an occasion of happiness and enjoy. When people came to know about the ‘taste of hungry’ at least for thirty days, they can understand the feeling of thousands who doesn’t get enough food to live.
All festivals are for people’s eudaimonia. Togetherness and acquiring wisdom from old people are the aims of each festive.
No comments:
Post a Comment