World-wide Celebrations End Ramadan with a Feast

From Abu Dhabi to Zanzibar, Muslims ended their 29 or 30 days of fasting with a celebration called Eid al-Fitr. This feast day comes at the end of Ramadan and in many places will include a holiday for three days.

In Jakarta, businesses and shops are closed and the usually gridlocked streets are nearly empty as about half the capital’s 12 million people leave the city for their hometowns.

Idul Fitri marks the end of the month of Ramadan, when Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink and sex during daylight hours.

Eid means recurring happiness or festivity in Arabic and Al-Fitr literally means the breaking of fast. Muslims celebrate the day that marks the beginning of Shawwal or the tenth month in the Muslim calendar with much enthusiasm and fervor.

The people of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina marked Eid Al-Fitr on Tuesday with their leaders calling for unity among all Muslim nations.

Muslims are encouraged to dress in their best clothes (new if possible) and to attend a special Eid prayer that is performed in congregation at mosques or open areas like fields, squares etc. When Muslims finish their fast at the last day (29th or 30th Ramadan), they recite Takbir.

Leaders of rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas on Tuesday marked the start of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that ends the fasting month of Ramadan, by vowing to achieve reconciliation in upcoming mediation talks brokered by Egypt.

There is a fair bit of disagreement on the day Eid is celebrated due to moon sighting difficulties and interpretation.

The conflict that arises from this disagreement is that different communities may find themselves anticipating different holiday dates, and this may cause confusion, particularly for individuals living in the western world, for example, who may need to request vacation days in advance.

For the second year, the Empire State Building shone its world-famous tower lights in green for its celebration of Eid-al-Fitr, the “Festival of Fast-breaking,” which marks the end of Ramadan. The lighting for Eid is an annual event in the same tradition of the Empire State Building’s yearly lightings for Christmas and Hanukah. The Empire State Building’s tower lights are world renowned for celebrating different nationalities, holidays, parades, and events of importance to the world.

Many Christians have taken the opportunity to greet Muslims in friendship. Instead of focusing on differences, they have been telling their Muslim neighbors how they too as Christians fast and pray because they are “people of the book”. In some cases, this time of celebration among Muslims is used as an opportunity to witness to them. One young person said, “Muslims are so open right now and in a good mood, I can explain my faith to them without stirring tempers.”

Although Ramadan is over, the necessity for prayer and action towards Muslim’s continues.

Pray for Muslims that you know personally during this holiday. If Muslims do invite you to participate in the festivities it is actually a great honour and usually a sure sign of their esteem, respect and friendship.

Recipe

Here is a recipe for Vermicelli Payasam, which is the name for a dessert often served at Eid ul-Fitr in India.

• 250 gms vermicelli (very thin pasta), broken into smaller pieces
• 1 Cup of sugar
• 6 Cups of milk
• 2 Tablespoons broken cashews
• 2 Tablespoons of raisins
• ¼ Teaspoon of nutmeg
• ¼ Teaspoon of vanilla
• 5 Tablespoons of ghee or melted butter

Heat 3 tablespoons of ghee or butter in a frying pan to melt. Add the vermicelli and fry until golden. Add the milk and heat for 5 minutes. Add sugar, vanilla and nutmeg. Stir well and cook until the vermicelli is soft, but do not allow to boil. Heat remaining ghee or butter in another pan and fry the cashew nuts for 1 minute until golden. Add the raisins and sprinkle onto the payasam. Serve warm in small bowls.

More information about Muslim Holidays and Islamic Holy Days is here …>>

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Here is a helpful video about Eid-al-Fitr