THE IDD

Introduction

    Id-ul-fitre or Idd is the most important festival of the Muslim community all over the world. It is a festival of purity, devotion, dedication, charity and rejoicing. Muslims all over the world celebrate it with great pomp and ceremony.

Time

    Idd is celebrated on the first day of shawwal. Shawwal is the tenth month in the Islamic calendar. It marks the end of Ramzan.

Ramzan

    Ramzan or Roja falls in the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. It is a month of fasting and prayer. The muslims observe a month long fasting during the month of Ramzan. In this month they fast from dawn to dusk. In the day time, some devout uslims don't even drink water. At night they take simple food. A large number of Muslims don't touch meat in the month of Ramzan. Almost all the Muslims pray to Allah five time daily in this month. They read the holy book Koran, offer prayers Namaj) in the mosques and practise charity. At the end of the month, when the new moon is visible, Idd is declared to be observed by the chief Mullah.

Getting rid of sin

    Muslims believe that thirty days of fast, penance and prayer wash away their sins. It purifies them. They become eligible to obtain the blessings of Allah. So they not only fast, but also lead a pious life in the month of Ramzan. They observe the Idd festival to mark the end of a rigorous fasting ronth.

Preparations for Idd

Great preparations are made beforehand to welcome the Idd. Some days before the festival, all the Muslims, rich and poor, young and old, men and women, buy new clothes. The males buy new caps. The women buy new bangles. They also prepare cakes and other delicious eatables.

The day of Idd

On the day of Idd, all the Muslim men, women and children take their bath in the morning and put on new clothes. They also sprinkle perfume on themselves. Then they go to Idgah or mosque to offer prayers. On this day, they offer collective prayers. The "Mullah" fixes a time for that. When all are assembled in the specified time, they stand up and offer prayer to Allah. After prayers they embrace each other like brothers and say Idd Mubarak which means "May Idd shower blessings on you". Some people go the graveyard. They offer flowers on the graves of their dead relatives and friends. They pray to Allah to give peace to the soul of the dead.

Charity

The day of Idd is a day of feast and charity also. The Muslims give alms to the Fakirs and beggars. They also enjoy the best of dishes such as musslam, biriyani, mutayyan and sevayyan. They also invite their friends and relatives to take part in the grand feast. Idd Mubarak cards and sweets are sent to the friends and relatives also.