Eid al-Fitr: The fasting ends

For Muslims, the fasting month of Ramadan ends with the sighting of the new moon. This year, the holy month started on July 9 and will end on August 7. To bring it to a close, many days of festivals will take place.

In Germany, the festival is known by its Turkish name “Bayram”, or the German word “Zuckerfest”, meaning sugar festival. Internationally it is known as Eid al-Fitr, after the Arabic term. In every country or region there are differences in the length and type of festival. Visiting the Mosque is a part of the celebrations everywhere.

People already begin to prepare for “Eid” during the fasting month of Ramadan. Many people buy additional religious items and also clothing, jewelry and shoes. Retailers, like here in Afghanistan, entice people with special offers. Sweets and dried fruits are favorite gifts for guests.

In Pakistan and India the festival of the end of Ramadan begins during the night of the last breaking of the fast. Many women allow themselves to decorate their hands with henna for the festival the next day. This night is known as “Chaand Raat”, the night of the moon, on the subcontinent. People typically congratulate neighbors, relatives and friends, as soon as the moon is sighted.

Because the Islamic calendar relies on the sightings of the moon, people only know whether it is “Eid” the night before. Consequently, many families make their way to their home villages at the last moment. Often the rail platforms are then overcrowded, like here in Indonesia. Riots or arguments are seldom seen, however.

For practicing Muslims, the first day of the festival begins with a visit to the Mosque for prayers, as seen here in Germany. Many families go there together, although there are separate prayer rooms and men and women. After the prayers, families often visit the cemetery, in remembrance of relatives and friends who have died.

In many Muslim regions a sweet breakfast is prepared following the morning prayers, like here in Palestine. This is also shared among neighbors and friends. For children there are presents or money. In many countries, adults and children alike wear completely new outfits.

In Burkina Faso and many other Muslim majority countries, whole communities and cities celebrate together. Young people play musical instruments through the streets and dance boisterously. People also use the holidays to visit family and friends. They greet each other with “Eid Mubarak”, which means “Happy Eid”.

On the holidays of Eid, many street vendors with snacks and sweets can be seen, such as here in the streets of Dhaka in Bangladesh. During the fasting month of Ramadan they are only allowed to sell their goods after sunset. They look forward to the large boost in sales returning to normal daylight working hours.

The festivities often go on deep into the night. Similarly to Christmas, special decorative lights are sold to decorate homes and street lamps over the celebration days. But it’s not only houses and mosques; public buildings are also festively lit, like the Empire State Building in the year 2007.