EID UL FITR CELEBRATION IN PAKISTAN-Traditions and Food

 

EID UL FITR CELEBRATION IN PAKISTAN-Traditions and Food

Eid ul Fitr is a most awaiting festival all over Muslim world including Pakistan. This Eid is a gift of God in return of 30 days consecutive fasting in the Islamic month of Ramadan. Pakistan’s 97% population is Muslim so Eid ul Fitr is celebrated with full zenith and excitement at every corner. Eid celebrations and feasts continue three days.  Eid ul Fitr is a family time. People living in big cities visit their hometowns to celebrate Eid with loved ones. Special Eid trains are run to hold the Eid travelling. TV Channels telecast special Eid dramas, shows and films to entertain the audience. Family gatherings are beautiful part of Eid ul Fitr celebrations. If you’re host on first day of Eid then you’ll be guest on 2^nd or 3^rd day of Eid. All parks, recreational places and tourist attractions are out of parking on Eid days because of people coming out to enjoy Eid at full swing.

The preparation of Eid ul Fitr started right before Ramadan and continued till Chaand Raat (a night just before 1^st shawal or Eid day). The markets get over crowded with men, women and children looking for new shoes, clothes and other accessories. Eid ul Fitr in Pakistan is a time when every income class generously spends on shopping new items. Zeal of approaching Holy festival of Eid ul Fitr can be seen on every face on Eid ul Fitr in Pakistan.

Eid Ul Fitr celebration starts from Chaand Raat

The celebration of Eid ul Fitr  begins as soon as central Ruet e Hilal committee announces Shawal moon sighting on last evening of Ramadan. Waiting for an announcement of moon sighting on 29th Ramadan is another joy of Eid. An Eid after 29th Ramadan is much loved but if moon doesn't appear on Pakistan skies then Chaand raat is an evening of 30th Ramadan. The last evening of Ramadan is known as Chaand Raat in Pakistan. As soon as the moon sighting is announced, a lot of people visit markets to buy the last Eid items which are specially kept on hold for this time. In a traditional chaand raat shopping in Pakistan, women and young girls buy Churian(bangles), Mehndi(Henna) and sandals. Men and young boys buy watches, sunglasses and shoes on chaand raat. 

Application of Mehndi on Eid ul Fitr

Eid ul Fitr is in incomplete without Mehndi or Henna in Pakistan. From a newborn fragile baby girl to elderly women, you can see hands full of Mehndi designs on Eid ul Fitr in Pakistan. Mehndi cones are available all around Eid stalls. The most popular cone mehndi are emergency cone mehndi, and dark colour cone. A girl who knows to apply beautiful mehndi design is most in demand by other family women at chaand raat. All family girls and women circle around the mehndi expert girl and wait for their turn holding their favorite patterns and designs for mehndi. 

Sometimes Mehndi application continues Eid ul Fitr morning in Pakistan.  Many women visit beauty parlors to have unique and neat mehndi designs.   

Ironing of clothes

Ironing Eid clothes on chaand raat is another task of time. As Eid ul Fitr prayer is held early in morning, so it is necessary to keep everything ready in time.  

Eid Ul Fitr Dishes Preparation

As Eid ul Fitr preparations are started from chaand raat in Pakistan so the preparation of Eid dishes gears up from night. Women soak chickpeas to make chana chart on Eid ul Fitr morning. Dry dates or "chauras" are soaked in milk for sheerkhurma.

Sheerkhurma

 Dry fruits like almonds and pistachios are cut finely to be added in Eid desserts.

Eid ul Fitr Morning in Pakistan

The most awaiting Eid ul Fitr morning is a time of hustle bustle in Pakistan. Eid morning is an early rise. Men and young boys get ready for eid prayers.

Pakistani president offering Eid prayer at Faisal Mosque, Islamabad Pakistan

 Women start making the most popular Eid dishes.  At many places, women also go for eid prayers. Eid prayers are held in near mornings or at open places at every corner. Men come and go from different routes to greet more people rejoicing Eid day.

Eid Greeting In Pakistan

People greet saying “Eid Mubarak” to everyone, hug each other on Eid in Pakistan. 

Eid money or Eidi makes children day

The eid money is called “Eidi” in Pakistan. If you’re celebrating Eid ul Fitr in Pakistan, then you must have change of cash to give eidi to all children in family and neighbor. Eid money can vary from PKR 20 to thousands as per your pocket but every elder in family have to give Eidi to children around. Also women receive Eidi from husbands and father in laws. 

Men receive Eidi from their in laws too. As soon as men come back from Eid prayers, they give eidi to kids, nephew, niece, grand children etc. Then kids go out to buy ice cream and other food items from Eid money.

Eid dresses in Pakistan

Women wear fancy shalwar kameez with long dupattas on Eid ul Fitr in Pakistan. Women wear churian, brcelets, earrings, anklets and fancy hair clips on Eid. Men wear Shalwar kameez with waistcoat mostly. Young girls wear fancy frocks and gharas to celebrate Eid. The dresses with embroidery are most favorite on Eid parties.

Eid breakfast dishes in Pakistan

Eid ul Fitr morning breakfast is incomplete without mom’s tasty “sheerkhurma” also called sawiyan. When its Eid morning, you’ll find “Sheerkhurma” on every table in Pakistan whether you’re residing in plains of Punjab, coasts of Sindh and Baluchistan province or at hills of KPK, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. "Sheerkhurma" is a popular eid dessert where vermicelli are cooked in milk and sugar and decorated with dry fruits and soaked dry dates. Another must have Eid dish is “chanachatt” (chickpea salad) on Eid breakfast table. Mithai (sweets) are also part of Eid table in Pakistan. Asides Sheerkhurma, Chanachart other Eid ul fitr breakfast dishes are kheer, dahi bhalay, mithai, cakes, and shami kababs.

Eid ul Fitr Dishes in Pakistan

When it comes to decorating Eid ul Fitr lunch or dinner table then most favorite Eid dishes in Pakistan are: Niharai, Biryani, Haleem, Mutton Qorma, Paye, Chicken roast, Shami Kabab, and pastas. The Eid desserts are mithai, kheer, and sheerkhurma.

The Eid celebrations continues three days with full excitement but Eid outings and family gatherings extends to coming weekends. So Eid ul Fitr is a most celebrated most awaited and most rejoiced festival of the year in Pakistan.