The Id

"Id-Greatest festival of Muslims stands for purity and chastity."

It is perhaps the greatest festival of Muslims. It is celebrated with great pomp and shows all over the world. Muslims follow Hizri Calendar; Ramzan (a month of the calendar) is a month of fasting for the Muslims.

Every year Id comes on the first day of the month of 'Shawal'. It is a day of gaiety, festivity, and feasting.

The Muslims consider Ramzan as the holy month. Every grown-up keeps fast and does not eat anything from dawn to dusk. It is believed that fasting purifies them physically s well as spiritually and opens the doors of heaven for them. During this holy month, every Muslim gives charity to the poor. They offer regular prayers in the form of Namaz' read the holy Kuran and feed the hungry. Fasting comes to an end when the new moon of Id is sighted. The sight of the new moon of the Id is considered very pious and holy by Muslims. It is a signal for the celebration of Id the very next day.

On this day every Muslim gets up early in the morning. He takes bath and puts on his best clothes. Then he goes to the mosque where he offers prayer in the form of 'Namaz'. After that, he embraces his friends and wishes "Id Mubarak". Then he gives and receives sweets from others. In the early hours of morning sweet noodles are cooked and given to every guest-whatsoever pays a visit to their house. Then a blessed goat is killed. Its meat is distributed among all relatives and friends.

It is a festival of love and goodwill. It gives us a message to love all and to hate none. It teaches us to embrace all men as brothers. Separated lovers hope to meet on this day. It brings sympathy and the feeling of brotherhood among mankind.