Abu Dhabi: Eid Al Fitr marks a unique convergence of religious and social occasions. It marks the end of Ramadan even as it brings generations together and heightens a sense of kinships and friendships.
Gulf News visited a number of families hoping to capture the spirit of Eid celebrations among different nationalities and cultures.
"Due to professional commitments, my family is spread across the UAE. During Eid we all gather at my parents' house in Ras Al Khaimah. It is a tradition that we are keen not to break," Abdullah Rashid, an Emirati told Gulf News.
The family celebrates the occasion with traditional Emirati food and sweets.
"Everyone, children and adults, wear new clothes. Children and youngsters wait for their ‘eidiya' [Eid allowance]," he added.
Eid for Zarif Choudhury's family, from Bangladesh, starts from the last day of Ramadan. "Six or seven families agree to meet at a shopping mall and buy their Eid clothes all together," he says.
Zarif, 20, a student at the Petroleum Institute, says his sister Lamia, 26, and their parents, Shabeen and Jalal, begin Eid with prayers at the mosque.
Prayerful start
"We usually go to the mosque for Eid prayer and then we have a home-made breakfast. My mom cooks our traditional Eid meal: kurma [spicy chicken], beef curry and chicken biryani," Zarif said.
"Ten to twelve families gather in one house for lunch. That's the fun part. We all wear our new Eid clothes, and play lots of games," he added. The fun food and games continue for all of three days.
Other expatriates try to create a family atmosphere even if they don't have relatives in the UAE.
"We try to give our children some family warmth. Since we don't have family here in the UAE, we go with another family or two to a cafe for brunch, then we gather at one place and try to buy the kids masks, and simple Eid toys for them to open, share and play all together in Eid," said Nihal, a 37-year-old Egyptian.
Randa, 43, from Lebanon, said: "We plan it with our friends and go in a group of four or five families to a restaurant that offers Eid buffet. The restaurant offers shisha after lunch and people then dance the Lebanese dabke."
For G.G., an Englishman who recently embraced Islam, Eid is a new experience. "Muslims are embracing me. I went for Eid prayer at the mosque, and then had breakfast with a group of fellow worshippers who invited me to join them. We were a large group of families."
