The two Eids (Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha) are the main festivals
of Bangladeshis. Nothing impacts the whole nation with the same extent
and magnitude as the two Eids. They also contribute in maintaining
social and family bondage, help establish equity between poor and
rich, and play a very important role in the cultural and literary
development of the country.
Eid-ul-Fitr comes after month long fasting of the holy Ramadan. The
festivity of Eid-ul-Fitr starts from the beginning of Ramadan and
ends with the Eid. During the Ramadan most people pay their Zakat,
a 2.5% share of the poor in the wealth of the rich, to the poor. This
helps the poor participate in the festival. It is a religious obligation
on the day to pay fitra to the poor at a fixed rate. Fitra helps the
poor to participate in the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Eid-ul Azha is popularly known as Kurbanir Eid or Bakra Eid in Bangladesh.
Eid-ul Azha commemorates the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (A), who
had been asked by Almighty Allah to sacrifice his dearest son Hazrat
Ismail (A) and with the consent of his son Hazrat Ibrahim (A) arranged
everything to implement Allah's order at a place called Mina near
Mokka in solar year 3800. Allah was satisfied by Hazrat Ibraim's sincere
intent and ordered him to sacrifice an animal in place of his son.
This Eid is marked by sacrificing animals and distributing the meat
among relatives and poor. One-third of the meat of the sacrificed
animal is kept for the owner, one third is given to his/her relatives
and the rest is distributed among the poor. This gives an opportunity
to the rich to discharge a responsibility to the poor and also helps
in development of cordiality between the rich and the poor. The hide
or the money received after its sale is given to the poor or to the
poor students of madrasahs and orphanages.
On the Eid day everyone tries to dress well and prepare improved foods
according to their ability. Relatives and neighbours also share the
joys of this festival.
Muslims perform two rakats of Eid prayer on the day and exchange greetings
with all. They exchange salam and greetings by embracing one another
irrespective of status or age. They also visit the graves of the relatives
and pious Muslims. Nowadays exchange of Eid cards and SMS have come
in vogue.
The government declares holiday for three days on the occasion. People
who live in towns but have their families or parents in villages go
to their country homes to meet relatives and celebrate the festival
together.
Congregational prayers are held in all rural and urban places. In
Dhaka, the Eid congregations are held at the national Eidgah, all
major mosques including the Baitul Mukarram. The biggest congregation
of the country is held at Sholakia in Kishoreganj, where about half
a million people join the Eid prayer.
Eid fairs are organised at many rural places. These fairs are basically
gatherings that promote friendship among the rural people. The fairs
are arranged on the bank of a river or under a big banyan tree near
the local bazaar. Handicraft items and foodstuffs such as chira, muri,
khai, manda, and sweets are sold in the fairs. Nakshi pankha, dolls,
and decorated pottery as well as musical instruments such as flute,
drum, Ektara are also sold. Some fairs have merry-go-rounds, puppet
shows and bioscopes. In addition, shows of spiritual songs such as
Marfati and Murshidi are also staged in the Eid fairs. In some areas
of the riverine Bangladesh boat races are organised. Arrangement of
prizes for boats that win the races are specially encouraged. The
rich people of the villages give the prizes.
In some rural areas sports competitions are also organised on this
occasion. Games like hadudu, Kabadi, and dariabanda entertain the
spectators. Football and cricket matches are also organised. These
games create a festive atmosphere. After enjoying the fanfare of the
Eid festival, people return to their work places with renewed enthusiasm.
The two Eids helps maintain the family and social bondage in the country.
Those who hail from countryside and stay in the cities go back to
meet their family members and celebrate the festival of 'Eid-ul-Fitr'
with them during the last days of Ramadan.
Eids play a very important role in the cultural and literary development
of Bangladesh. Daily newspapers, weeklies and other periodicals publish
special issues rich with novels, stories and poems. Some magazines
publish special issue on Eid fashion. Dozens of new Bangla movies
are released on the occasion of Eid. TV channels take special arrangement
to mark the Eid by broadcasting their most attractive programmes during
for several days starting from the Eid day. Drama and film by Humayun
Ahmed, the most popular novelist and movie makers of Bangladesh, Imdadul
Haque Milon and others, magazine programmers like 'Ittayadi' by Hanif
Sanket some of the most enjoyed Eid TV programmes since years.
Although these are religious festivals of the Muslims, people from
other religion also participate in it by accepting invitations from
their Muslim friends, neighbours and colleagues.
[By Aminul Mohaimen] |
