Muslims in Endumeni and around the world are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, which means ‘festival of breaking the fast’, to mark the end of Ramadan.
The festival marks the end of Ramadan during which believers abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours.
Muslims are celebrating the Eid-al-Fitr religious holiday with prayers as they mark the end of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan.
The day usually begins with early morning prayers and then family visits and feasts. Muslims greet each other by saying ‘Eid Mubarak’.
Eid is the first and only day in the month of Shawwal during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan (the 9th month of the Islamic calendar). The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal.
The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the observation of the new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality. The Islamic Calendar is different from the widely-used Gregorian calendar. It is based on the moon’s cycle, whereas the Gregorian one is determined by the sun. As the two don’t align, the Islamic dates move back by 11 days each year.
Eid-ul-Fitr has a particular Salat (prayer) consisting of two Rakats (units) and generally offered in an open field or large hall. The Eid salat must only be performed in congregation (Jama’at).
Muslims continue their fast until the last day of Ramadan and pay their fitra (charity which is incumbent upon every Muslim on this day) before offering the Eid prayer.
Thereafter, the day is spent visiting the elderly and sick, and family and friends, and partaking of traditional delicacies, which varies between the Muslim cultures in different countries across the globe.
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