- Marking the end of Ramadan
Marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, the Muslim community in Sri Lanka is celebrating Eid-Ul-Fitr today (3). This festival is generally observed on the first day of Shawwal – the month that comes after Ramadan in the Hijri calendar. Since the beginning of any lunar Hijri month varies according to the new moon sighting by religious authorities, Eid will be celebrated today in our country.
With the recent protests, there has been a sense of harmony that our country hasn’t seen in a while – many came together at Galle Face to break fast and pray, and keeping aside religious differences, several religious occasions were honoured together in that spirit of harmony.
On Eid-Ul-Fitr, Muslims thank Allah for offering them health and resistance during Ramadan. Donning new clothes, preparing special sweet meats and other delicacies, coming together with their loved ones to honour their beliefs, and engaging in charity and good deeds are common practice in most Muslim households across the globe to celebrate the occasion, and Sri Lanka is no exception. It is, after all, a day to give thanks for the good in one’s life and come together in prayer first thing in the morning.
There are some constituent parts of Eid Ul-Fitr that are recognised all over the world. For example, one of the five pillars of Islam is the act of giving to charity, or Zakat. For Eid, there is a specific type of charitable giving called Zakat al-Fitr, which can take place at the end of Ramadan, which is a tradition followed here too. However, it is recommended that this is given out in advance so those in need can also join in the celebration of Eid.
As well as the universal traditions, there are some more quirky ones in different countries. One of these is in Afghanistan, where a popular Eid activity is to paint hard-boiled eggs and have a food fight with them, in what is known as Tokhm-Jangi. Everyone gets involved, and the aim is to break your opponent’s egg while keeping yours intact.
Brunch reached out to a few Sri Lankans to find out how they spent Eid this year.
‘Eid isn’t Eid with the country’s situation’
Crepe Runner Founder Abdus Salam shared that his family joined together in prayer first thing in the morning. This was followed by a delicious feast and much-needed family bonding time. He shared that for him, Eid is a day where you are cleansed from the sins as you have been disciplined for a month – so it’s commonly observed with prayer and charity.
His family gathered together today to share blessings, but Salam also observed that with the poor state of the country, Eid isn’t Eid anymore, and no longer feels like a celebration – rather a bleak observation on how everyone everywhere is simply just trying their best to survive and get through the day.
‘Eid is a spiritual cause’
Business graduate and digital marketer Aarefa Shiraz told us that in line with tradition, their family took part in a simple celebration at the mosque, as they do every year.
“The morning prayer is followed by breakfast served at the mosque and everyone is dressed in festive clothes so there’s a lovely sense of unity and belonging,” Shiraz shared.
To a certain extent, Shiraz believes that religion tends to provide a “social glue”, offering purpose and meaning to people’s lives.
“It gives people certain ultimate values and tends to hold in common with others. The values help society function as an integrated social system,” she stated, adding that religion undoubtedly gives one morals and values, and these are common amongst those within the circle of the same faith.
However, she also believes that everyone has different ways of perceiving religion and its teachings, so in terms of functioning as an integral social system, she thinks this is subjective to a lot of factors.
“Yes, having the same belief strengthens bonds, but I genuinely think it’s a more spiritual cause, which is sort of a ‘to each their own’ kind of thing,” she added.
‘It is a time for forgiveness and family’
Tour consultant Sayed Raza does things a little differently.
“Today, we celebrate our Eid festival, and as per our Prophet’s words, there are few things we follow,” he said, detailing the morning of Eid. “Early in the morning at around 6.30-7 a.m., we go to the mosque to pray, and after prayers, we greet people, and then directly, we go to the burial ground,” he told us.
When asked why, he explained that they go to the burial grounds and recite the Quran for the deceased, as they believe all the good deeds they’d done over the last month will pass on to the dead to bless them. Only after this will they go home to their families and spend time with them.
“This is another word of the Prophet that most people follow. It’s compulsory to visit family members, especially the old and ill ones,” he told us. He also stated that if any grudges were held previously, it’s a must that they go speak with them and make amends.
“Forgiveness and building relationships is a big part of Eid, and according to our religion, we are not allowed to hold anger for more than three days.”
A celebration after three years
With the constant lockdowns and advice against travelling, most celebrations have not been the same because of Covid-19. Law student Amana Iflal told us that the 2022 Eid celebrations are thus special, because after three years of not being able to celebrate it properly, they finally have a chance to celebrate with family and friends.
Sharing a look into their lunch, she spoke of special delicacies and traditional meals.
“Lunch was the traditional Sri Lankan Moor lunch called ‘Kaliya Wirunthu’, and since there was plenty to go around, we shared with the neighbours down our road as well.”
They also invited some of their elderly non-Muslim neighbours for lunch at their house in the spirit of togetherness. Iflal believes that when it comes to religious integration, sharing food is a really good way to share your culture with others. She told us that all visitors were served traditional sweets as well, so they can enjoy new experiences.
Her evening too was very simple, but homely – a meet up with her extended family for tea, followed by dinner at her father’s. This Eid was all about sharing and caring for Iflal.
‘Sri Lankans are more curious about our culture’
Content writer Ruqyyaha Deane also shared the same sentiments as Iflal.
“It’ll be nice to celebrate after so long since Covid-19 prevented us from meeting up the last few years,” she said, adding that she too, will be going to the mosque in the morning followed by a homemade lunch at her aunt’s house.
Deane noted that because of the protests and the resultant sense of newfound harmony, many have been more curious about the month of Ramadan and have asked her about fasting and other rituals that are followed during the holy month.
“Eid is a new beginning for us, so it’s nice to hear people come ask me what Eid is all about,” she told us, adding that she believes it can bring people together. Her family has been preparing sweets like watalappam, boondi, dosi, and others to hand out to the neighbours, just like it is tradition to do for Sinhalese and Tamil New Year.
She noted that this year, especially, people have been more open to learn about the culture and the festival and hopes that in time to come, our country will not be divided by religion anymore.