Kathmandu, March 21: Muslims across the country, who observed fasting during the ninth month of the Hijri (Islamic) calendar according to the Arabic calendar, are celebrating the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr today by offering special prayers and receiving blessings from elders.
After offering special prayers today, it is customary to visit elders for three days to receive their blessings. During this festival, elders also give blessings to younger people. Relatives who come to offer greetings are served sweets such as sevai (vermicelli pudding), dates, and other delicacies.
The festival is called Eid-ul-Fitr because it involves giving charity joyfully and sharing with the poor and needy. The celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr is determined after sighting the moon on the last day of the ninth month of the Arabic calendar.
Special prayers will be offered on Saturday morning at the Nepali Jame Mosque in Ghantaghar. After that, the tradition of visiting elders for blessings begins. Another notable aspect of this festival is giving charity to the poor and needy. Similarly, special prayers are also offered at the Kashmiri Mosque in Ghantaghar and at mosques and Eidgahs across the country.
According to the Quran, Muslims are required to donate two and a half percent of their annual savings in cash or kind. This donation is distributed among the poor and needy and is known as Zakat.
On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, each person donates wheat or an equivalent amount in cash according to their capacity. This is called Sadaqat al-Fitr (Fitrana). It is obligatory even for a child in the mother’s womb, and this donation is also given to the poor and needy.
The month-long fast (Roza) of the Muslim community began a month ago. It is observed to seek forgiveness for sins committed over the year. During this period, people fast from sunrise to sunset and offer prayers in the evening after sighting the moon.
On this occasion, members of the Muslim community wear new clothes and visit friends and relatives to exchange Eid greetings. The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced a public holiday today on the occasion of the festival.
People’s News Monitoring Service.
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