Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) After a month of fasting during the holy month of Ramzan, it was time to feast. Dressed in their finest, Muslims in the capital offered prayers and invited friends and relatives for sumptuous meals on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr Monday.
Eid, celebrated on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, marks the end of the period of fasting during the holy month of Ramzan. Eid is an Arabic word meaning “festivity”, while Fitr means “charity”.

“After praying at the local mosque I went to my friend’s place where all of us enjoyed sevian (a sweet made of vermicelli). In the evening we have planned a big family gathering and all of us will sit together and enjoy a lavish dinner,” said Moinuddin, a resident of Jamia Nagar in south Delhi.

Children wearing new clothes showed off their ‘eidi’ (money elders give to the young as a token of love on Eid) and flooded the streets in old Delhi, adding colour to the festival.

“I received Rs.500 as eidi from my grandfather and I will buy a new pair of shoes with the money,” said Ashraf Ahmed, a Class 6 student.

The days leading up to Eid had seen people on a shopping spree, purchasing new clothes, utensils, dry fruits and other ingredients for the grand Eid feast.

Eid-ul-Fitr is also a festival of sweets with the markets flooded with traditional delicacies. People make ’sevian’ and ‘phirni’, amongst a host of other preparations, at home.

Through the day, people met friends and relatives, and exchanged greetings and gifts.

“I travelled to my home in Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh to celebrate the festival with my family. Eid is the only time in the year when I get to go home and see my relatives and friends,” said Naseer Khan, a cook in a Delhi restaurant.

Delhi Police have made elaborate security arrangements — apart from diverting traffic at various places, particularly near mosques.

“We have made adequate security and traffic arrangements to avoid any problem,” a police officer said.