Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah: Families in the UAE made the most of the Eid holidays after a month dedicated to prayers, good deeds and fasting from dawn to dusk.
For Emirati families, Eid Al Fitr is considered a holy occasion which they observe with certain rituals and celebrations.
Arif Hamad Al Za’abi, a Ras Al Khaimah resident and government employee, said he visited Eid Musallah to perform Eid prayers on Friday morning.
After returning home, he got dressed in new clothes to head for a Eid gathering at a relative’s house.
His family also welcomed relatives and friends with traditional food ‘Al Fala’ including Harees, Khabees and meat and rice.
“Traditional ‘Al Fala’ should be served in each Emirati house,” Al Za’abi said.
On the second day, Al Za’abi’s family visited their relatives in other emirates.
The tradition of gifting money [Eidiya] to younger siblings, nieces and nephews is still a very essential part of Eid. Al Za’abi said he gave new banknotes as Eidiya to his children and children of his relatives.
His family, including wife and two sons aged five and eight, start their preparation for Eid before two weeks to find a tailor for stitching their Eid clothes.
During Eid Al Fitr, people wear their best clothes and adorn their homes with lights and decorations. Tailors get busy making Eid clothes, he said.
People greet each other by saying “Eid Mubarak”, which means “have a happy and blessed Eid”, Al Za’abi said.
The Eid Al Fitr holiday is a time of faith, relaxation and celebration, he added.
Elderly people also visit and greet grandchildren and give Eidiya.
Parents take their children to greet grandparents who are unable to visit them.
For Indian expat Mahamood Maharoof and family, Eid Al Fitr is an occasion they eagerly look forward to for a year.
“More than the New Year, we feel that we get a fresh start during Eid Al Fitr. We feel more cleansed physically and mentally. Prayer is never missed even during celebrations,” said his wife Rubeena.
Though the annual iftar hosted by Maharoof, who runs a luxury passenger transport company, is the time the family gets to meet all their friends, relatives and clients. Eid is once again an occasion to strengthen the bond with family and friends.
“We are blessed with a large circle of relatives and friends here. We somehow manage to meet everyone at home or outside during the Eid holidays,” said Rubeena.
This Eid is extra special for the family as their 10-year-old son Mifzal fasted throughout Ramadan. “We are so happy that he managed to fast every day and never missed the prayers also.”
The family’s Eid celebrations began with Rubeena and daughter Mazna putting henna on their hands as soon as Eid was declared.
In the morning, the entire family offered prayers at Al Manar Quran Study Centre. On the way back, it was time to distribute sweet boxes to Maharoof’s employees at their staff accommodation and also visit Rubeena’s sister and family with traditional sweets.
After a traditional breakfast, the family hosted several relatives including cousins and nephews and a Hindu friend’s family.
Donating rice to labour accommodations, offering zakat to workers the family meets regularly at grocery and restaurant, and delivery boys as well as gifting money (Eidiya) to his own children and children of their relatives here and back home are also essential part of Maharoof’s Eid celebrations.
“It is the time to remember everyone back home and our past experiences. We miss our parents the most during Eid though they visit us occasionally.”
For engineer Salman Ali and wife Maheen, Eid offers a throwback to childhood memories. This time it was more so because both their parents, who had visited them earlier in the year, left crisp bank notes in envelopes for not just their grandchildren, but also for the couple.
“My parents were here in January and my in-laws just left us during Ramadan as they have to celebrate Eid with my husband’s newly born niece in Pakistan. Opening the envelopes they left behind for us and children — Amaan and Izyan — brought back nostalgic memories,” said Maheen, a German citizen.
Apart from the Eid gifts from their parents, Amaan and Izyan also received customary Eid clothes from their paternal grandparents.
Though it is customary to cook biryani during Eid, Maheen skipped it this time and prepared mutton achar gosht. She said she also made rose buns, cheesecake bars, and brownies which are her children’s favourites.
“There is no Eid without sheer khurma. So I made that also,” she said.
Since their family friends who usually visit them for Eid lunch were also away this time, the couple took their sons to visit the families of about six friends on the first day of Eid.
“After lunch we spent some time with friends staying in Sharjah and Dubai. We gave Eidiya to all their kids.”
On the second day, Ali cooked chicken kadai and Maheen prepared salmon and roasted potatoes.
In the evening the family also visited a Malaysian friend who invited them for an open house Eid festival with a buffet party.
