Id-ul-Fitr

This festival celebrates the end of Ramzan, the Muslim month of fasting. It is an occasion of feasting and rejoicing. The faithful gather in mosques to pray and meet their friends and relatives and exchange greetings with each other.

Prayers, family get–togethers and feasts are the major highlights of the celebrations.Idi or presents of money are given to the youngsters by the family elders, conveying their blessings.

Ramzan or Id -Ul-Fitr is a Musilm festival celebrated at the end of the Ramadan, the ninth lunar month of the Islamic Calendar, the day following the appearance of the new moon. The holy month of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, is very auspicious to the Muslims the world over.

Ramzan means the 'festival of breaking the fast'. Fitr is said to be derived from the word 'fatar' meaning 'breaking' or 'fitrah' meaning 'alms'. It is an occasion of feasting and rejoicing. In the morning of Ramzan, people break their fast by having dates or any other fruit, dress well and gather in mosques to pray. Family get-togethers and feasts are the major highlights of the celebrations. Friends and relatives meet to exchange greetings 'Id Mubarak' and prayers. 'Idi' or presents of money are given to the youngsters by the family elders, conveying their blessings. Special delicacies are prepared, like Seviyan and 'Shir Korma' a dish with milk and dates.

During the month of Ramadan, the Muslims are ordained to observe fast for 30 days (sometimes 29 days, owing to the early sighting of the crescent) starting with the sighting of the new moon and end it after seeing the new moon the next month. They fast during the day throughout that month, even without drinking water or indulge in any form of pleasure. Pious men among them spend the day during the month in prayer and reading their holy book 'Quran'. They have their meal only at night. It is customary to break the fast with a sip of water, dates or some other fruits. Muslims are required to make a special effort to settle their differences and refrain from quarreling and also give alms to the needy during this month. To a devout Muslim, Id is a time to forget all past grievances.

It is believed that the holy book of Muslims, the Quran, came into existence during this month. ProphetMohammad who was an illiterate person was chosen by God to be His messenger to compile the holy book. The last ten days are specially significant as the faithful watch for Lailathul Qadr (the Night of Power) during which the revelation of the book to the Prophet was completed. Apart from bringing the Muslims face to face with the hard realities of life like the pangs of hunger, thirst and deprivation, Ramzaan is an annual training period inculcating discipline and declaration of subservience to the laws of God, enumerated in the holy Quran.