The True Spirit Of EID
by A.HASSAN
On the advent of this festive occasion when all believers are making preparations towards its celebration, I receive a call, late in the afternoon from my editor to do a piece for MAG the Weekly’s EID issue. Ok! I say, my mind reacting in a clichéd frame i.e. a piece full of fun, frolic, fashion, home decorating, mouth watering Eid dishes and visits to family and friends – but I am suddenly cut off in my thinking process. Editor is saying something. She is giving me a guideline. She wants a piece on the true spirit of Eid.
The word true – prefixed to spirit – changes my whole perspective. Sitting in the terrace of my abode in Lahore’s DHA which is much more greener and homely than many others, I mull over the words ‘true spirit’, all the while watching the blue sky speckled with formations of small clouds resembling flocks of sheep waiting for their shepherd’s call to home. Thoughts, as how to begin, what to write simply start erupting in my mind and working on the adage ‘there’s no time like the present’, I sit down to pen what’s revolving and evolving in my mind. And somewhere in my mind are also floating lines of William Wordsworth’s poem ‘Daffodils’ – like ‘thoughtful and pensive mood’, ‘the inward eye’ and ‘the bliss of solitude’.
I am re-living the past and present in the present at the same time. The word EID means khushi (happiness). How intelligent were our ancestors and knowledgable too. They used to call Eid ul Fitr, Choti Eid and Eid ul Azha, Bari Eid. After a month of fasting and abstinence from all worldly urges and needs, we start enjoying the same again, indulging ourselves thus this is the smaller happiness – choti Eid, whereas, Eid ul Azha is all about sacrifice, giving and sharing so the bigger happiness – bari Eid. Bari Eid has an air of sobriety while choti eid is a festive occasion and celebrated as such. And how it was celebrated, that is precisely what is flashing before my ‘mind’s eye’ in these blissful moments of my solitude. Thankyou, MAG for making me re-live the true spirit that was and though different, still is.
Actually it all started with the beginning of Ramadan – the holy month. After the first week the countdown began as to ‘kitnae rozae rah gae’. It’s the anticipation of happiness and looking forward to it that is more pleasurable. With every passing roza the excitement would mount. By the middle of Ramadan clothes were given for stitching and bickering with the master jis (read tailors) would begin and highten as the days advanced. This was purely the women folks’ domain and headache. Men folk and male kids went for shalwar kameez and chappals or shoes. Though Eid shopping started after the 15th of Ramadan, the greatest pressure was during the last 3 or 4 days as the salaried ones would get paid usually at the nick of the time – idiomatically speaking. Oh! With what pride the sole bread earner would lead his flock of a doting wife (for the time being atleast) and excited offspring to the bazaar, his pocket heavy with crisp bank notes. Markets would be full of happy beaming faces, going shop to shop making choices, comparing prices and finally purchasing the selected items. The die-hards would always wait for the chand raat even though they had the means much before. Shopping on chand raat was a fad and is still in practice.
The real charm of celebrating Eid was in a joint family system with uncles, aunts, cousins and the lot. All preparations were made under the wise, watchful and experienced eye of the grandmother – maternal or paternal. The bahus and betis while executing their given functions were infact, being trained and prepared for their future responsibilities. Team spirit and working jointly towards one purpose was the name of the game.
The ever popular Radio Pakistan and mosque loud speakers being there to announce the appearance of moon, yet moon sighting was a very personal, exciting and thrilling affair. People living in houses would be on their rooftops while those in bungalows in their lawns, bunched together (no one missing or out with friends) looking at the sky. Everyone had to see the moon him or herself and recite the relevant (dua) prayer. After the sighting and dua the mothers would look at the faces of their children. What a solemn, affectionate and faith inspiring moment. A current on oneness within the family and with the creator flowed and felt strongly by all with the end words of the dua – rabbi wa rabbikullah – your (the moon’s) and my ALLAH is the same. And then those few moments of solemn communication would transform into that genuine happiness of embracing, kissing of foreheads and mubaraks. Eid, infact had arrived in those very moments to be celebrated the next day. A full day of undiluted, carefree and heartfelt happiness. For the romantics, the rooftop even afforded them an opportunity to sight their mangaetars (fiancés) on other rooftops. Mujhae mil gaya bahana teree deed ka / kaisee khushi lae kay aaya chaand eid ka and eid ka din hai galae aaj tu mil lae zalim / rasm e dunya bhi hai mouqa bhi hai dastoor bhi hai were the messages on Eid cards for this group.
No one could sleep properly that night. Adults making preparations and children looking longingly at their new clothes and footwear unable to wait for the morning when they would be wearing the same. Somehow, these things could not be used even once before the Eid morning. And, hence the day would dawn. A rush to the showers for the fresh bath. Eid day bath was like no other bath throughout the year. The whole concentration was on the men folk (no chauvinism here) as they had to go for Eid prayers to the nearest mosque or ground. They dressed in new clothes and new footwear. I still remember the term Dusham Zair (enemy under your feet) on the males wearing new chappals. And when the father of the family led his sons for the prayer ground, granny would say in an undertone, peeth kar kae jao, moun kar kae aana. Oh! Her doting looks at her two generations.
In the half to an hour of their absence, a total transformation would take place at home and the men folk on their return would be agog at the fairy tale change in their women folk – wondering if they were the same ones that they had known for the last whole year. Added to the festive colourful attire donned by the ladies and their mingling scents of the perfumes was the delectable aroma of the steaming sawaeenyan dishes. A hearty Eid breakfast and then the final touch… the dignified grandfather and grandmother sitting side by side – smiling proudly. All kids would go to them one by one, say assalaam u alikum and receive their Eidi. This was their day. Have the mother and father’s day people ever thought of this. They were not receiving – they were giving!
Eid is a day of blessings, happiness and oneness for young and old, rich and poor alike. Like we exchange our Eid dishes with neighbours and relatives, let us also exchange true feelings of love and sincerity which is the true spirit of this great day, that we are all blessed with by the Almighty. A very Happy Eid Mubarak to our readers
