Festival of Eid-ul-Fitr
The Eid ul-fitr festival is the most important muslim festival. It was originated by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. This is observed on the first of the month of Shawwal and marks end of the holy month of Ramadan in which the believers undergo a period of fasting.
The Legend behind this festival
According to certain belief, these festivals were initiated in Madinah after the Muhammad left Mecca. The legend behind the Ramadan fast is that Prophet Mohammed along with other Muslims went to Medina in 622 CE to avoid the persecutions in Mecca. Many years later he got a revelation from God stating that all Muslims should fast for a certain number of days to develop self control, purify one’s soul and come closer to Allah.
Another legend is that Angel Gabriel descended from heaven with white clothes for each of prophet Muhammad’s grandsons during this time – thus the tradition of wearing white clothes associated with this festival.
Rituals performed on this festival
Typically, Muslims wake up early in the morning—always before sunrise— offer Salatul Fajr (the pre-sunrise prayer), and in keeping with the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad clean their teeth with a toothbrush (Arabic: Miswaak), take a shower (Arabic: Ghusul) before prayers, put on new clothes (or the best available), and apply perfume.
Prayers on Id-ul-fitr at Mosque
Eid-Ul-Fitr Recipes
Delicious dishes like semiya payasam, vermicelli and kheer (sweetened milk) are prepared and distributed among friends and relatives in social get togethers. Besides this, various non vegetarian dishes like chicken, mutton etc. are also an integral part of Eid cuisine. Most popular dishes are Butter Chicken, Nawabi Biryani, Chicken Tikkas, Seekh Kebab etc. On this day Muslims distribute a kind of gifts in form of food, clothes or cash to the needy person.
Legend of Id-Ul-Fitr
Id Ul Fitr is celebrated at the end of the Ramzan which is the most pious month in Islami Calendar. According to the legend, one day Prophet Muhammad had a vision in which the angel Jibril told him how Allah wanted people to live. Then Allah’s words were revealed to Muhammad through the angel during the month of Ramzan, and the words were written down to form the holy Qur’an. Prophet Muhammad declared the last day of Ramzan to celebrate Id Ul Fitr and strengthening the feeling of brotherhood.
