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Eid-ul-Fitr & The Malabaris in the Middle East

Shaji Moidunni Kutty
Qatar

There is no much difference the way we all celebrate, especially I could say between Arab community here and we Malabaris there at Kerala. Some of the dishes prepare around the world may be varied.

The day following the appearance of the new moon is celebrated with great enthusiasm. All Muslims put on their best clothes and assemble in mosques, Eidgahs or in some open space and line up for prayer. The Eid prayer is recited between the early morning and noon prayers. As soon as the prayer is over, people embrace and wish each other "Eid Mubarak".

Eid - ul - Fitr is a great favourite with children. On hearing that the new moon has been sighted they immediately begin laying out the clothes they will wear the next morning. Boys look for their new socks; girls for their hairpins. Boys select the caps they will wear for the Eid prayers; little girls plead with their elder sisters to have their dupattas(shawl) dyed to match their new clothes. Every Muslim home is alive with excitement.

On the night of the new moon most Muslim shops remain open till the early hours of the morning so that people can buy all they need and are able to celebrate Eid befittingly. No matter how late they went to bed,everyone is up early. And the children are up even earlier than their elders ! Before the grown - ups have had time to bathe and change, the children are ready and impatiently waiting to accompany the men to the mosque or the Eidgah. They are particularly thrilled because, before leaving they are given some money known as eidee, which is more than their usual pocket money. On the way back home they blow up the eidee money on toys, balloons and sweets. Then they go to meet their grandparents, uncles and aunts who give them more eidee and sweetmeats. There are special delicacies prepared for Eid. Vermicelli pudding is the great favourite. There is also sheer khorma cooked in milk with raisins and nuts. Besides these, there are several varieties of savoury dishes. In most areas, people of other faiths join Muslims in celebrating Eid.
 

 

 

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