“The Eid After Ramadan: Recalling The Excitement And Traditions Of Eid Celebrations From The Past.”
The Eid After Ramadan: Recalling the Excitement and Traditions of Eid Celebrations from the Past
The scent of freshly made sheer khurma filled the kitchen as Zoya adjusted her bangles, the soft clinking sound blending with the distant echo of children laughing outside. She turned to see her younger sister, Sara, struggling with her dupatta in front of the mirror.
“This thing never stays in place!” Sara groaned, pinning it again. “How did you manage to wear all those heavy Eid outfits when you were my age?”
Zoya chuckled, stepping forward to help. “Trust me, back in the day, we had no choice but to wear them, no matter how itchy or uncomfortable. But we didn’t care because Eid was magical—it was the most exciting day of the year!”
Sara rolled her eyes playfully. “Apa, you always say that about everything from the past.”
Zoya smirked. “That’s because you kids today don’t know how real Eid used to be! Let me take you back to when Eid wasn’t just a holiday—it was an entire experience.”
The Night Before Eid: Chand Raat’s Glittering Joy
“The real excitement started the night before—Chand Raat,” Zoya began, her voice warm with nostalgia. “The moment we spotted the Eid moon, the entire house would erupt in celebration. Amma would start frying samosas, Abba would call our relatives, and us kids? We’d race to the bazaar with our cousins to get our hands decorated with henna.”
Sara’s eyes widened. “You actually went to the bazaar at night? Weren’t your parents worried?”
Zoya laughed. “Oh, Chand Raat was different—even the strictest parents allowed it! The markets were alive with music, fairy lights, and the scent of fresh roses from the gajras sold by flower vendors. The mehendi artists would have long lines, and we’d sit on tiny stools, giggling as they swirled designs onto our hands.”
Sara smiled, rubbing her fingers over her own mehendi. “I guess Chand Raat is still fun, but it sounds like you had way more fun than us.”
Zoya winked. “Oh, we did.”
Eid Morning: The Most Anticipated Day of the Year
“The real magic, though, was waking up on Eid morning,” Zoya continued. “Even before the Fajr adhan, the house would be buzzing. Amma would be in the kitchen, cooking sheer khurma, Abba would be ironing his crisp white shalwar kameez, and we sisters? We’d be fighting over the mirror to do our makeup.”
Sara burst out laughing. “Some things never change.”
Zoya grinned. “We’d wear our best outfits, usually something Amma had picked months before Ramadan even started. Silk, organza, gota-work, and dupattas so long we had to be careful not to trip. And the bangles—oh, the bangles! Amma always said, ‘What’s Eid without colorful bangles?’”
Sara lifted her wrist, admiring her own set of glass bangles. “I love the sound of them.”
“Exactly! That sound—chur chur chur—was the sound of Eid for us.”
Eidi: The Most Exciting Part
“But you know what we looked forward to the most?” Zoya asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sara grinned knowingly. “Eidi!”
Zoya nodded. “The moment we touched Abba’s feet for dua, he’d slip crisp new notes into our hands. We’d collect from every uncle, aunt, and elder we visited—stuffing our pockets like little bankers! And then, we’d all run off to buy sweets or little trinkets from the neighborhood stalls.”
Sara sighed dramatically. “I wish we still got that much Eidi. Now it’s just a few notes and a ‘you’re too old for this now’ look.”
Zoya laughed. “Same thing happened to me when I grew up. But when you’re little, there’s nothing like that thrill—clutching your Eidi in your hands, already planning how to spend it.”
Family Feasts and Endless Visits
“After Eidi collection, the whole day was one big dawat. Every house smelled of biryani, kebabs, and kheer. We’d visit our relatives, eating at each place even when we were already stuffed.”
Sara made a face. “Ugh, I hate when that happens. It’s always ‘Beta, bas ek aur roti le lo!’”
Zoya laughed. “It’s tradition! And it made us feel loved, even if we thought we’d burst. The best part? Seeing all the relatives in one day, hearing the elders tell their old stories, and ending the night completely exhausted but happy.”
Eid Then and Now
Sara sighed, resting her chin on her hand. “It sounds…different. Eid still feels special, but I don’t know, maybe not as exciting as before.”
Zoya nodded thoughtfully. “That’s because times have changed. We don’t have the dhol of Chand Raat filling the streets, or the entire neighborhood rushing to Eid prayer together, or those simple joys of running through the bazaar without a phone in hand. But you know what?”
Sara looked up. “What?”
Zoya smiled. “We get to create new traditions. Maybe it won’t be the same as before, but as long as we celebrate together, the spirit of Eid will always be there.”
Sara reached for Zoya’s bangles, giving them a little jingle. “Then let’s make today just as special. But first—you still owe me some extra Eidi.”
Zoya burst out laughing. “Nice try, but I’m an elder now. I should be collecting Eidi!”
As their laughter filled the room, the warmth of Eid wrapped around them—a celebration of old traditions, new memories, and the unbreakable bond of family.