Steemit Engagement Challenge Week 2 || Share your Country's Culture || Festival:- Eid Ul Fitr || by @abdu.navi03

Festivals play an important role in our life. They bring us a break in our tiring routine. Every community and religion has different festivals for their people. Some festivals are cultural while other are religious. Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter. As for Muslims, Almighty blessed us with a festival, Eid. Muslims fast for 30 days and as a gift from Allah receive this joyous festival.

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Eid is celebrated according to the Muslim calendar which is based on lunar events. The night the moon is sighted is named as 'chaand raat ' locally which means 'the night of moon'. Upon sighting the moon, everyone gets busy in Eid preparations. The children go out with parents to buy new clothes. Bazaars and food streets are flooded with loads and loads of people. People are busy in their last minute shopping. The excitement and harmony could be felt in the air. People who live in different cities go to their hometowns to spend Eid holidays with their loved ones.

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The girls get their henna or mehendi done, which is kind of a common practice for all females as it makes your hands look prettier. It requires a lot of skill. Stalls are set up for this purpose. Parlors are filled with women of all ages for henna.

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On the next day, which is Eid, Muslim men offer prayers in mosque. They wear the best of their clothes. Money is given to the poor beforehand, so they can also enjoy this day and don't feel left out. After prayers, they greet each other and hug each other with smiles and warmth. The women of the family make sweet. Cooking a sweet dish is a tradition of eid. Sheer khaurma, Ras malai, Gulab Jaman are some of the mostly loved dishes. Sweets are sent out in neighborhood.

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The people get ready and wear their new clothes on Eid. The elder give money to the younger as a tradition. Children are being given money which is termed as 'eidi ' and it is the most enjoyable part for them. They go to shops to buy toys or to food stalls to eat. It's their day for once.

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Restaurants and parks are filled with people. There is no place to step in. Theme parks are filled with children. The ride fares are increased due to holidays. Families go to restaurants for outing. The tables are mostly filled. The consumers have to wait in lines for their turns.

Boys have get togethers with their friends. Girls get ages to get ready and visit their friends. Barbeques are hosted. Families go out to lunch and dinners at each other's homes. The women of the family cook food. The tables are filled with different kinds of dishes. Sweets are served afterwards. Children gather and play games. Group photos apparently are a thing these days. They sit and talk about bunch of stuff. They eat and then thank Almighty for bringing this day in our lives.

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In short, Eid is one of the most important days in a Muslim's life, as it brings the Muslim community closer together than ever before. So I decided to write about this festival because it is my favourite day of the year. So that's from my side. I sincerely hope you enjoyed it.

I invite @malikusman1 and @hamzaali01 to take part in this contest.

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regards,
@abdu.navi03