11 Reasons Why Eid-ul-Fitr Is The Best Time Of The Year

Eid-ul-Fitr is an auspicious occasion in the Islamic Calendar and is one of the most revered days of the year. Millions of Muslims around the world celebrate Eid together as it is a day common to all sects of Islam without a single exception. Scenes such as strangers hugging and wishing each other bliss and happiness on the roads are not an oddity on the day, and go a long way to show that Islam is not, but a religion of peace of love. Girls love Eid for its festivity as it is a great opportunity to dress up and And that is why this grand day is a personal favorite of mine, too.

Here are eleven reasons why I find Eid day unsurpassed amongst the 355 or so days of the Islamic year:

1. The Alms. The best part about Eid is that it gets all Muslims to share their happiness with the less privileged. The Fitra and the Zakat have to be given out from one’s monetary holdings to the poor and the needy at the end of the Ramazan, so that they can celebrate this universal day of happiness too, in whatever little way they can.
2. The Family Get-togethers. Today’s fast-paced life gives people little time to catch up with their immediate family, let alone the cousins, and the chachus, and the mamus. However, at Eid, visiting all your relatives is a tradition that is almost obligatory in most Pakistani households. It is good to see brothers sitting together, and sisters chatting away their troubles over the kitchen counter after a long time. It also gives you a great time to catch up with cousins, who are, for most people, the oldest friends they have had.
3. The Eidi. Eid-ul-Fitr comes at the perfect time after a succession of Iftar get-togethers leave the thrifty amongst us almost broke for cash. It is almost impossible to contain the eagerness with which most youngsters (and even some adults) grab the cash handed to them as eidi by some generous and some not-so-generous relatives. Ever been handed a 10-rupee note, anyone? Still, it’s mufta money. Rejoice!
4. The Eid Prayers. It is fitting that the end to the holy month of Ramazan is greeted next morning with a prayer to the Lord which is offered by even the most wayward of Muslims. After the namaz, hugs are exchanged with strangers and neighbors, who have not looked at each other’s faces in months, exchange inquiries about their lives and everyday problems.
5. The Freedom to Snack. Before y’all get your judgmental pistols out, let me state that it is not that I don’t like fasting. It’s just that I like eating. Or if I were to be more particular, snacking. It is virtually impossible for me to cram something into my head during exam days, if I’m not chewing on a gum or popping chocolate balls into my mouth. I’m not a big eater, but I’m a constant one. Even though Ramazan is a nice change, it does feel good to be munching on something every two hours again.
6. The Desserts. One of the biggest smiles besets my face when I return home from the Eid prayers to find Amma’s Doodh-Chu’ara and Siwayyan are cooked and ready to go. Like I said, I like snacking, and hence keep going back to the kitchen for ‘more siwayyan’ all day. Until Amma bans me from entering the kitchen, citing the plausible shortage of vermicelli for guests as the reason. No fair, right?
7. Time To Spend With GrandParents. I remember, how every Eid, the first person who I used to hug after coming back home from Eid prayers would always be Dada. And it was from him also, that I always received my first Eidi too. A 10-rupee note was what it used to be, but it surely had much more value than its monetary worth. Although, now, my only living grandparent is my Nano, who resides in Canada, but Eid used to be a special occasion for the simple fact that Dada’s smile used to be the broadest on Eid morning.
8. The Chand Rat Pandemonium. Even though Chand Rat is not an actual part of Eid, it is one of the most festive nights of the year in our country. You only have to wander the streets of Saddar or Tariq Road on the night, to enjoy the vibrancy and the busyness of the throngs of people going in and out of shopping malls and restaurants. Girls buying bangles from roadside thelas and getting mehndi applied on their hands at temporary salons set up are a familiar sight on the night.
9. An End to Shopping Excursions. Even though I like going out on Chand Rat, I hate shopping trips personally. However, being an only son, there is no way I can find to escape from being my Amma’s and sisters’ attendant at their regular Eid shopping vigils. So, once the Eid day finally comes, it is a relief that the pre-Eid shopping expeditions also come to an end.
10. It’s A 3-day Holiday. The best feeling when the Eid day comes to an end is knowing that you still have two holidays left. Three-day holidays from schools and colleges are a rare thing indeed, and just when you think the rut of waking up at 4 am for sehri and then going to your institute while fasting is gonna kill you, along comes Eid with a nice little break from everything monotonous and tiring.
11. The Reunions and The Texts. Although unlimited packages mean that getting over a hundred Eid wishes and then replying to them is a real drag, but it’s surely nice to hear from your old friends from secondary or high school who, you are no longer in touch with. Eid gives you the chance to have a little chat with them, catch up with what’s going on in their life, and maybe even get together with them after a long time.

I am sure I missed out on a lot of reasons why Eid makes you happy. Do share those with us in the comments below!

Adios, and Eid Mubarak! =)