Hari Raya Celebrations Around The World
Every year, after one month of fasting, Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Puasa which falls in the month of Syawal. Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of a month of fasting for Muslims. It is a day of joyous celebrations. Because the timing of Eid al-Fitr or Hari Raya is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, it can be difficult to predict when the festival will take place. It is observed when the first new moon is sighted. This can lead to the festival being celebrated on different days in different parts of the world.
On the day of Eid, Muslims gather at mosques in the morning to perform the Eid prayer, before holding family gatherings and visiting friends. Muslims share feasts and sweets to mark the end of the fasting period and greet each other by saying "Eid Mubarak." The holiday is usually celebrated for three days, although it can vary depending on the country. Even though Eid al fitri is celebrated in most joyous and traditional manner, it is celebrated differently in different parts of the world. Lets have a sneak peek at how Muslim’s around the world celebrate Eid.
Singapore
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Celebrating Eid in Singapore is similar to Malaysia and Indonesia. After prayers, every family member would kneel down and ask for forgiveness from their elders. The typical food that is served on this day is ketupat and ayam masak merah. Kids will get extra excited because they know that this is the time of the year that they will be getting some money as a gift called “duit raya.”
India
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Muslims across India celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with exuberance and religious fervor, marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan. Members from the community gathered together early morning to offer the special Eid prayers at mosques post which the joyful celebrations began. The festivity is marked with the preparation of a special dish of “sheer-korma”, a sweet preparation of milk, vermicelli and dry fruits.
United States
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In the US, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated a bit differently than in Muslim-majority countries. Since a wide variety of ethnic groups and nationalities make up America's Muslim population, Eid celebrations are influenced by a number of cultures. Events feature music, singing, and other festivities to create an atmosphere of joy right before Eid. On Eid morning, Eid prayers are held in areas such as parks, stadiums, convention centers, and hotels, to accommodate large crowds. After Eid prayers, donuts and coffee are often served. Parents give their children Eidi, which is a monetary Eid gift. The rest of the day is spent differently from family to family. Community mosques often hold Eid carnivals featuring various rides, rock-climbing, petting zoos and festival food.
Bangladesh
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In Bangladesh, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated with much enthusiasm and excitement. The last few days of Ramadan are busy as people go shopping for multiple outfits to wear to a number of parties known as dawaats. The night before Eid al-Fitr, people go out to look for the new moon, which signifies the beginning of Eid and the new month of Shawwal. On Eid morning, Eid prayers are held in large, open fields known as Eidgahs. Everyone is wearing their best clothes, with men and boys usually wearing the traditional panjabi paijama and women and girls wearing salwar kameez or shari. Elders give children eidi, and the rest of the day is spent snacking on sweets, known as mishti, feasting on rich foods, visiting friends and family members.
Malaysia
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In Malaysia, Eid al-Fitr is known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri. The day before Eid, Malaysian households are often very busy, preparing a number of dishes such as ketupat. On Eid day, people mainly wear traditional clothes, with men wearing baju melayu and women wearing baju kurung. Malaysians often hold open houses at their homes on Eid day, a time period during which any friends, family are able to visit, feast on a meal and enjoy themselves.
Pakistan
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For the Pakistani community, Eid is typically celebrated for three days. In the mornings, before they head to the mosque for prayer, they would normally have something light to eat. These three joyful days are filled with family gatherings and good food. Married couples would also give out some money to children.
Tanzania
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In the mornings, the women would normally wake up earlier than the men to prepare for the big day. After the men come back from the mosque, their family members (close and distant relatives) gather around to celebrate Eid. In Tanzania, Eid is celebrated for four days. Usually on the third and fourth day, family members like to go out of town to their hometown or even popular beach areas like Zanzibar.
Palestine
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Palestinians call Eid-ul-Fitr as “Eid-ul-Saghir” (the small Eid). Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated for a week. For only two days, Palestinian Muslims make it a point to visit family members and relatives. The unique character about the Palestinian culture is that on the first day of Eid, the men from each family will gather and visit the distant female relatives. Also, some money is given not just to children but also to women, in most cultures, only children get money but the Palestinian Muslims prioritize children and women.
Indonesia
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Indonesia has the biggest Muslim population in the world, with approximately 202.9 million people who identify themselves as Muslims. And on top of that, Muslims in Indonesia consist of different ethnicities, as they live through out different provinces. Indonesians call Eid-ul-Fitr as “lebaran,” meaning celebration. Another thing to do is to go to relatives houses and celebrate together by hanging out and exchanging stories. This is called “Sillaturahim.”
United Arab Emirates
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In the United Arab Emirates, Eid id celebrated with full of lights – literally! Buildings are lit and the night skies are filled with fireworks. Families usually start the day with an early wake-up and morning prayers inside their home or at a nearby mosque. This is then followed by a lunchtime feast with friends and family to reflect on the previous month of Ramadan. It's also customary to exchange gifts with your loved ones and donate to the less fortunate during this time. While the month of Ramadan remains a quiet and reflective time of year in Dubai, Eid in Dubai brings with it a great deal of buzz and excitement. With the Eid Al Fitr long weekend, the emirate's top malls and entertainment spots put on spectacular shows welcoming tourists and visitors alike. There are moving shows, special performances, music concerts and so much more.
Thus Eid al fitri or Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of holy month of fasting and celebration. Hope all have a blessed Ramadan and a glorious Hari Raya !
