“On the day prior to Eid, the traditional shopping hubs like Sabzibagh and Patna Market are open till the wee hours of the night. In fact, the congested lanes of Sabzibagh would be buzzing with activity throughout the night on account of people flocking there to buy bakarkhani, naan roti, sheermaal, dry fruits, mutton et al,” says Mohammad Tabrez, a shopkeeper.
“Eid” is an Arabic word meaning “festivity”, while “Fitr” means “breaking the ritual of fasting”, and so the festival symbolizes the celebration at the end of the Ramzan month. Excited chants of “Eid mubarak” fill the air upon the sighting of the elusive new moon on the eve of Eid (chand raat).
According to housewife Rukhsar Bano, Eid ul-Fitr or Eid is an occasion of brotherhood and harmony - a time to love your friends and forgive your enemies, and welcome everyone into the fold.
And the preparations for this sweet festival, fittingly referred to as “meethi Eid’, are no less mind-boggling.
There is a mouth-watering array of sewai-based dishes prepared on Eid: zarda, phirni, sheer khurma, lachha, Benarasi sewai etc. “Most of these make heavy use of dry fruits and finely chopped dates and coconut,” says Saima Hassan, a telecom professional. Qimami sewai, a UP speciality made of super fine sewai, is also prepared by many in Bihar.
To offset the excessive sweet taste of these preparations, other dishes like dahi-vada and chhole are also prepared. However, non-veg still rules. “A Muslim festival without non-veg dishes would be unthinkable,” says boutique-owner Roshni Haque, horrified at the notion. Non-veg delicacies like kebabs, tandoori murg, mutton curry, mutton grail, etc are teamed up with naan, sheermaal (sweet bread) and bakarkhani (multi-layered, rich and sweet, sometimes with silver foil on top).
“Prior to the festival, the house needs to be cleaned and spruced up,” says Mumtaz Jehan, another housewife. Her cousin Nikhat, sitting close by, adds, “New clothes are a must, at least for the ‘Eid ki namaz’ held in the morning.”
According to railway employee Arshi Khan, by the time her husband and children return from the Eid ki namaz at Gandhi Maidan, she’s through with the food preparations and namaz at home. “Once back, the kids create a great ruckus for the ‘Eidi’,” she says, referring to the money traditionally given by the elders to the children.
The quintessential fragrance of Eid, Itr finds a place in all Muslim households. “I usually set the miniature Itr bottles into a decorative box or on a silver tray. We dab it over our wrists and behind the ears, and repeat this routine with anyone who comes visiting,” says Arshi.
The steady stream of guests on Eid ensures that the enthusiasm meter does not dip. “Every year, we entertain dozens of guests on Eid. It’s great to catch up with relatives and friends,” enthuses Mehnaz Parveen, a work-at-home mother. According to her, the spirit of celebration touches one and all, be them Muslims or non Muslims. “Most of my friends are Hindu, and they unfailingly turn up on Eid to wish me and enjoy the home-cooked spread,” Tanveer Azmi, a businessman, concurs with a smile.
Many are, however, not so lucky as to be surrounded by their loved ones. Jameel Khan, an engineer from Siwan, works in Oman’s capital, Muscat, and could not come down to India for the Eid celebrations. “It’s tough to stay away from your family and friends on Eid,” he rues over the telephone. He sent a suitcase full of gifts for his family and relatives though, which is a fine example of how Eid celebrations transcend the barriers of national boundaries and physical distances.
