Let’s celebrate Eid

By: Shazia Yousuf

“Eid” - a synonym for colour, festivities, celebration, family reunions and happiness, a time when near and dear ones get together to share their joys. Women, young girls all decked up with new shimmering gota clothes, bangles, mehndi and Cinderella sandals make this day extremely colorful. Men and young boys in their traditional kurtas are no way behind in the Eid fashion parade.

Lunches, dinners and open houses, where guests keep coming in all add up to the beauty of this day. Not only relatives and friends, but families of drivers, maids, post man, the dhol wala who was apparently heard only during the last few days of the sehri are a prominent part of the guest list of every house hold. Eidi is a major attraction for all.

Traditional gourmet comprising sewaiyan, sheer khurma, mithais, cakes and lots of other delicious eatables decorate the dining tables and trolleys and everyone keeps munching on these goodies the whole day.

It is not just a three day celebration, but Eid festivities kick off with the preparations that include numerous shopping trips during roza and after iftar. The trips after iftar are more fun as they then include all those snacking on the yummalicious cholas, chaats, bun kababs, masala fries, rolls, ice creams and drinks. During the last few days of Ramzan, shopping centers are overcrowded to the extent that one may wonder things are being given away for free! All these preparations show the mental state of the people. It is a way of expressing joy and happiness.

Happiness is said to be a state of mind. But as a nation, are we happy?

Price hikes have been devastating for the public! With more than twelve out of the twenty million people still displaced and affected by the floods last year, political unrest prevailing in our city, law and order situation extremely grim, a large number of families still mourning over the loss of their loved ones, can we genuinely be happy this Eid? Just think about it this way. If a very close relative is in extreme crisis, do you think you would feel like “celebrating” Eid at all?

We are more focused on our “wants” rather than our “needs”, forgetting the “needs” of so many less privileged people all around us and shoving aside the thought of those in pain and grief.

Apart from our own beloved country, if we just look at the Horn of Africa, there are so many people out there who are waiting for clean water to drink, weak premature babies are born in camps crying with hunger since their mothers are too weak to nurse them. Clean clothes and shoes may sound a luxury for many. Survival of so many families is at stake!

Let us all remember, this Eid is different. We must start our day with prayers for the innocent lives lost, and for the ailing homeland situation to improve with His Grace and Mercy.

We must also not forget, Allah has given us His bounty; we must spend it in the right direction. It would be wrong to say we have done enough. What we have done is not enough; it could never be enough! Let’s celebrate eid, with true spirit of brotherhood. Let us share all that we can. Let us share our love, our good will and support, and kind thoughts. Let us be generous. Let us believe in the power of giving!

“The hand that gives is better than the hand that receives”

May this Eid be Mubarak to all!