For Muslims, Eid comes after 30 (or 29) days of fast and is a reward for the sacrifice made in the month of Ramzan. For others, it comes as an occasion to relish the delicacies like sewai and biryani. These two dishes have become, somehow, inseparable part of the celebration, but there is more to Eid than just this.
Eid for Indian Muslims in general and me, in particular, has two aspects - one religious and another cultural. Culturally, Eid ul-Fitr brings the best of India together. Despite all the bigotry and hatred prevalent in the society, Eid is something everybody looks forward to.
In a multi-cultural society like India, where we grow up celebrating all festivals, irrespective of our religion, Eid represents what we Indians do best - eat and chat. For me, since I was old enough to understand the concept of invitation, the day has been something when all of my friends gather at my place to chat and eat without a care in the world. I look forward to inviting as many of my friends as possible. For me, Eid is good food and good conversation and there is never enough of those two.
It is also a day when the number of friends that I have does not seem enough as the food on the table loudly screams. They come and go but food seems to be enough to feed hundred others but unfortunately, I do not have that many friends. It is a day when all of us, Muslims and Hindus, Christians and Sikhs, hug each other without malice or thinking about what our ancestors did to theirs and vice versa.
It is also a day when we realise how much we love gifts as everybody keeps talking about eidis. Kids also get their first lesson in accountancy on this day. It is a day of great conversations, and nobody is vying for blood. The day keeps us off the social media as conversation is happening in our drawing rooms where we are free to speak and nobody seems to be offended.
As for the food, there is every kind. On a single day, I taste at least a dozen of recipes of sewai and one seems to best another. As you move from North to South, East to West, you will find different dishes on the table, cooked in different ways but only for one purpose – Eid. Whether you are a vegetarian or crave for chicken and mutton, there is something on the table for every one of you.
These conversations and food come after 30 days of sacrifice. The festival which comes after Ramzan, the month of fasting, is believed to be a reward for giving up food, water and all the worldly desires. It is not just a reward for you, it is also for those who are less fortunate. Muslims are expected to donate generously. While everyone who can afford is expected to donate a minimum amount, there is no upper limit. The concept behind Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, is that everyone must have a life with dignity. It is incumbent upon those who can afford it but it is not a favour to those who cannot.
When people rise for Eid prayers, there is no discrimination between rich and poor, their colour of skin or their language, caste or class or what their gender is. They all rise together and pray to God for everybody. They are then joined by their non-Muslim brethren for hugs, food and conversation. For a day, they all remember that the life is all about food, conversations, gifts, charity and love.
