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 30 November 2017    Celebrating Eid Mubarak   Dwi Wu

Idul fitri is one of the biggest Muslim festivals. The word “Id” means happiness, literally means breaking of fast. Therefore Idul Fitri is celebrated on the first day of Shawal, the tenth month in the Muslim calendar, to mark the end of a month of long fasting during the month of Ramadan. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and with great fervour throughout the country. Id is perhaps the only festival that lays great importance on sacrifice and purity of life. It teaches us the value of love, brotherhood and sympathy. Muslim keep fast for a month so that their souls are purified. They pray five times a day and give food to the poor and the needy. They cherish a belief that Allah has given them health, strength and opportunities in life to fulfil their obligations of fasting and doing other good deeds during the month of Ramadan.

The day on which Id falls is a day of great merry-making. It is a day of love, affection, harmony and brotherhood. Muslims wear new colourful clothes. They go to the mosque or a field very early in the morning to perform Eid prayers and to seek blessings from Allah. After that they visit their friends and relatives. They embrace each other forgetting old grudges and ill-feelings. They wish each other “Eid Mubarak”. Food is prepared and “Ketupat” is a popular Indonesian dish made on Idul Fitri. Usually the food is eaten with “Opor Ayam” and there are also many different cakes or sweets.

Muslim from all strata of life are seen happy on Eid. A spirit of brotherhood prevails in every heart. There is no distinction between the rich and the poor on this day. All are equal. The government observes a holiday on this day. The president and the prime minister wish a happy Eid to all Muslims. The other section of society also enjoy this day. Thus Eid is celebrated in a very affectionate environment. Hong Kong, being a secular place, gives full freedom to its Muslim to enjoy this festival fully. The festival comes every year to remind every Muslim that communal harmony and brotherhood are foremost and they must be given top priority to strengthen the foundation of society.