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]]>Heavy showers in the capital and many places across the country on the Eid day and the following day could not mar the festivity; people rather welcomed the rain after days of sultry weather.
The Eid was peaceful, with no major unpleasant incidents occurring during the Eid holidays.
The major Eid congregations were held at different
grounds and in open spaces in the capital defying drizzles but in the coastal areas the congregations were held inside mosques due to inclement weather.
People, especially children and the young ones, prepared for the celebrations since Sunday night with enthusiasm after 30 days of restrain during Ramadan.
The capital already wore a deserted look as several million people left the city to celebrate Eid with their families in outlying areas braving the hassles of travel, compounded this year by the run-down condition of roads and highways.
Besides celebrating the festival with near and dear ones, vacationers swarmed the tourist retreats of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban and Patuakhali.
The spots were full to the brim the day after the Eid, Tuesday, with huge number of tourists. The hotels and motels were abuzz with crowd even in this off-season.
The Dhaka South City Corporation and the Dhaka North City Corporation arranged 361 Eid congregations at 90 wards of the city.
The main congregation was held in the National Eidgah. Baitul Mukarram khatib Maulana Muhammad Salahuddin led the prayer.
The president, Zillur Rahman, ministers, MPs, Supreme Court judges, politicians and elite of the city attended the congregation at the National Eidgah. Five congregations were held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
About four lakh people joined the congregation at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj which organised the 185th congregation there this year.
Muslims all over the country sought divine blessings for the welfare and progress of the people and the country.
President Zillur Rahman, prime minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia exchanged Eid greetings with a cross-section of people and foreign diplomats at Bangabhaban, Ganabhaban and Escaton Ladies’ Club respectively.
The capital was decorated with miniature replicas of the national flag and banners reading Eid Mubarak. A number of government buildings were illuminated.
The streets, however, were free from the usual traffic congestion. Cheerful children in colourful attires roamed around the city.
Some were seen enjoying the rain on the Eid day by travelling on foot or in rickshaw. Many people, especially children, rushed to the parks and zoos to enjoy the day.
The state-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, and other private television and radio channels aired special programmes and the newspapers carried special editions to mark one of the biggest days on Islamic calendar.
Poor children were allowed in government amusement parks and museums without ticket on the day.
Special food was served in hospitals, jails, government-owned children’s shelter homes and other welfare centres and shelter homes for the destitute.
Entertainment and cultural programmes, sports events and gatherings of children were organised in different districts.
Newspapers brought out special supplements and the electronic media aired special programmes on the occasion.
Improved diets were served at hospitals, children’s homes and jails.
Different law enforcement agencies took up special security measures and intensified surveillance at important points to avoid any untoward incidents.
Several villages of Chittagong, Noakhali, Bhola, Patukhali, Munshiganj, Madaripur, Lakshmipur, Dinajpur, Narayanganj, Barguna, Barisal and Chandpur, however, celebrated the festival on Sunday in an isolated way in line with the sighting of the Shawal moon in Saudi Arabia.
-With New Age input
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]]>Muslims from India, Pakistan and almost all parts of the country joined the 185th congregation of Eid-ul-Fitr at the historic Eidgah, said Deputy commissioner Md Siddiqur Rahman who is also the president of the executive committee of Sholakia Eidgah.
Chairman of Islahul Muslimeen Council and secretary general of Jamaat-e-Ulema Maulana Md Fariduddin Masud conducted the Eid Jamaat.
The number of devotees is increasing every year to attend the Eid congregation at the largest Eidgah of the subcontinent. Over three lakh devotees come here to offer their Eid payers every year.
The first Eid congregation on this ground was held in 1828 when a local Dewan, called Sayeed Ahmed (R) of Haibatnagar Dewan Bari of the town, conducted Eid Jamaat on one of the fields of his own ‘Taluk’ (revenue zone). This later became known in history as the Sholakia Eidgah.
The name ‘Sholakia’ comes from Shoa Lakh, meaning ‘one lakh twenty-five thousand’ being the number of people that had come to offer their Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at the Eidgah.
The surrounding area was also named Sholakia afterwards. Later, another Dewan, Mannan Dad Khan, gave 4.35 acres of land for the Eidgah in 1950. However, according to sources, the Sholakia Eidgah now has about 7 acres of land.
The Eidgah stands on the bank of the Narosunda River and is known throughout the continent for the large number of devotees who come here every year for saying their Eid prayers.
There are about 265 rows, each of which can accommodate 500 devotees at the Eidgah. So, the entire field can accommodate some 1,32,500 devotees. However, more than three lakh devotees offer their prayers here using the nearby roads, open spaces and courtyards of surrounding houses.
Sholakia Eidgah has an executive committee of 51 members with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) being its ex-officio president.
Two special trains will operate on Bhairab-Kishoreganj and Kishoreganj-Mymensingh routes to facilitate the movement of Sholakia-bound Muslim devotees.
-With unbconnect.com input
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]]>Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, is being celebrated amid gaiety, feasting, family reunions and boisterous festivities across the country on Monday.
The day’s programme began with offering Eid prayers by millions of Muslims who thronged at mosques and eidgahs braving light rains in the capital After a month-long fasting, Muslims sought divine blessings, peace, progress and prosperity in their Eid congregations throughout the country.
The prayers followed by exchanging Eid greetings.
The main Eid jamaat (congregation) of holy Eid-ul-Fitr was held at National Eidgah on the city’s High Court premises at 8:30am.
The Eid congregation was also held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Two Eid congregations were also held at the Dhaka University playground and south plaza of Jatiya Sangsad.
Besides, Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation arranged 361 Eid congregations in 90 wards of the capital.
President Zillur Rahman offered his Eid prayers along with hundreds of people from different walks of life on the National Eidgah.
The chief justice, several ministers, state ministers, Dhaka city mayor, judges of the Supreme Court, senior political leaders, diplomats of different Muslim countries
and high civil and military officials offered prayers at the main Eid jamaat.
Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Prof Moulana Muhammad Salahuddin conducted the Eid prayers.
A special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for peace and development of the country, welfare of the people and greater unity of the Muslim Ummah.
The country’s biggest Eid congregation was held at Sholakhia Eidgah in Kishoreganj.
Around 4 lakh musullis from remote places of the country and even abroad gathered there to perform their Eid prayers.
Thousands of people have already left the capital to celebrate the Eid with their loved ones.
President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages have greeted the countrymen and the Muslim ummah on the occasion.
Special diets are served in hospitals, jails, government-owned children and shelter homes, socially handicapped and vagabond welfare centres and shelter homes for the
destitute.
Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private television channels and radio stations are broadcasting special programmes on this occasion.
Leaders of different political and socio cultural organisations in their messages greeted the people.
-With The Daily Star input
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In Arabic Eid means ‘festivity’. Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, is observed after a month-long ‘siam’ (fasting). Although Eid is all about feast and festivity, it does not carry the same meaning for the poor and homeless.On the day of Eid, people traditionally wear new clothes, eat delicacies, and enjoy the day with their family and friends, while many poor people in the country virtually starve on the day. Wearing of new clothes on the Eid day is a daydream for them.
Jamila Khatun, who lives with a quite big family on the footpath at Palashi in Azimpur, told New Age that she did not even think of buying new clothes for her children.
‘The money I earn from domestic work is not enough even to meet the expense for food. How can I buy them new dresses?’
Shumi Begum, another woman living on Palashi footpath along with about 15 families from poverty-stricken northern districts like Bogra, Kurigram, Dinajpur and Panchagar, has forgotten when she last bought new dresses for her children. Many Eids have passed off silently without any changes in Shumi’s condition.
Abul Kalam, a homeless man in Tejgaon, whose family live on begging, said Eid brings nothing new to them. ‘I forgot many years back what Eid is’.
He said that Eid brings joy and happiness only for the rich. But his 12-year-old son Amjad Ali will have some joy on Eid day as he has collected some special food items from the houses of some rich people.
Amjad, a domestic help in a private house in Tejgaon, has a long cherished dream to wear jeans and t-shirt. This time he thought that he should buy his cherished clothes.
He told New Age that he saved Tk 300 for celebrating Eid. ‘I wanted to buy jeans and a shirt for this Eid but I do not know whether I can do that with this money’.
Another floating woman Zahura Khatun, who also lives on a pavement in Tejgaon, saved some money to feed her children some good food on Eid day.
Zahura plans to cook pilaf and chicken curry for her children as her family’s Eid celebration is limited to having some cooked rice with meat.
Shefali Begum, who lives in the Begunbari slum in Tejgaon, earns Tk 50 a day by breaking bricks. ‘l don’t know what food I will prepare for my kids with this small amount of money. I would be happy if I could prepare khichuri (kedgeree) and chicken curry for them,’ she said with a beaming face.
Abdul Kader, a dishwasher of a restaurant in Tejgaon, told New Age that he got his job a month ago that earns him Tk 70 a day.
‘I have no idea how to celebrate Eid as I have to support a family of eight with this small income’, he added.
14-year-old Kulsum Banu, who sells flowers at Shahbagh traffic signal, said shyly that she could save some money this month for celebrating Eid with her family members.
‘I want to prepare some good food for my parents as they are unable to do any work due to disability’, she added.
Eid brings every year joy and happiness to most of the people in the society, but it means nothing to these hapless people.
Courtesy of New Age
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]]>If the moon is not sighted on Saturday, the Eid will be celebrated on Monday, ending a month-long fasting.
Thousands of people have already left the capital to celebrate Eid with their loved ones as a seven-day public holiday began on Wednesday due to government holidays for National Mourning Day and Shab-e-Qadr apart from weekly holidays.
After a month-long fasting, Muslims across the country will seek divine blessings, peace, progress and prosperity in their Eid congregations.
The main jamaat (congregation) of holy Eid-ul-Fitr will be held at National Eidgah on the city’s High Court premises at 8:30am.
In case of inclement weather, the Eid congregation will be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 9:00am.
All preparations involving Dhaka City Corporation (South), Dhaka
Metropolitan Police, Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s office, Islamic Foundation, Public Works Department and PWD have already been made to hold the main Eid jamaat at the National Eidgah.
The country’s biggest Eid congregation will be held at Sholakhia Eidgah in Kishoreganj.
President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia in their separate messages have greeted the countrymen and the Muslim Ummah across the globe on the occasion.
In his message, the president said after a month-long siam practice Eid-ul-Fitr brings messages of pure joy and pleasure for the mankind.
“Eid builds ties of harmony, amity and unity among people of all classes and professions.”
He hoped the teachings of Eid-ul-Fitr will inspire all in building a good and prosperous society.
In another message, the prime minister said Eid teaches us about peace, sympathy and brotherhood. She called upon all for reflecting the teachings of Eid in all spheres of personal, social and national life.
The premier hoped that Eid will bring the message of joy for all irrespective of their economic status. Hasina also prayed for continued development, progress and peace of Bangladesh as well as the Muslim Ummah.
In a separate message, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia prayed for happiness, peace, development and progress of the Muslim Ummah, including Bangladesh.
Eid will also be celebrated in Bangladesh missions abroad.
Special diets will be served in hospitals, jails, government-owned children and shelter homes, vagabond welfare centres and shelter homes for the destitute.
Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private television channels and radio stations will broadcast special programmes on the occasion.
The national flag will be hoisted atop government and non-government offices on the occasion. Main city streets will be illuminated and decorated with flags.
All children’s parks under Dhaka City Corporation and Dhaka Museum will remain open for the underprivileged children on the Eid day.
Cultural functions, friendly football matches and Eid gatherings of children will also be held across the country.
-With UNB/The Daily Star input
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The pattern of Eid celebrations has been changing with time. To get a glimpse of the Eid festivity more than half a century ago, New Age talked with four cultural personalities. They had almost the same observation that they do not find that enthusiasm and emotion for celebrating the day together with all relatives and friends these days compared with their days, be it financially a rich or a poor arrangement. Excerpts of these interviews given below:Hasan Azizul Haque
Eid was not celebrated as a major festival in eminent litterateur Hasan Azizul Haque’s childhood in Rarh in India, the birthplace of the write. He grew up in a hostile time in a chaotic place in the early 1940s amid riots, famine and tumult of the World War II.
‘Inhabitants of the remote village in Paschimbanga were mostly poor peasants. Secondly, Muslims were the minority community. Although our family was financially solvent, we could not celebrate the festival regularly. In fact, in such time we used to wear old attires cleaning those with soda,’ Hasan Azizul Haque told New Age.
‘Occasionally we got half-pants and half-sleeve shirt in Eid. If we ever had any new clothes for Eid, we would hold them to our nose to get the smell of new dress for many days. But we never expected to get a new shoe. There was no choice but to use school shoes. I still remember the Eid day when I got a new “naughty boy” shoe.’
Despite all of these odds, Eid festival used to be celebrated together in the villege, he said.
‘On the Eid day we used to take bath in the pond early in the morning. My uncle used to give kohl in our eyes and atar on our dress. My paternal aunt used to offer us to drink water of jamjam,’ he said.
Even the location for the Eid congregation used to be finalised by the writer’s father. ‘The melody of the recitation of verses from the Qur’an by a person, a mason by profession who used to be the imam of the Eid prayer, still resonates in my ear,’ he said.
‘Returning from the prayer, we used to take rich food like vermicelli, polow and korma. Truly, I don’t find foods tasty like those days,’ he added.
Even there was very ordinary menu for Iftar in Ramadan. In fact, there was no other option but to be “sangjomi” meaning self-restrained. “Gurer sarbat” used to be the major attraction.’
Ferdausi Rahman
Renowned singer Ferdausi Rahman had different interesting experiences in Eid. As she was born and grew up in Balarampur in Cooch Bihar in India, she found Eid working as means of communal harmony.
‘People from other communities used to come to celebrate Eid with us. And the Eid celebrations used to start quite a few days before the Eid day since my mother used to make vermicelli in a machine at home. And all my siblings and cousins had the competition to turn the wheel of the machine round.’
‘On the Eid day, all of us used to perform in a play, written and directed by my uncle Abdul Karim on the lawn of our house in Balarampur. Villagers from all communities used to come to enjoy the Eid plays.’
Nature of festivity changed a little when her family migrated to Dhaka after the partition. ‘While living near Victoria Park in Old Dhaka, my father [iconic folk singer Abbasuddin Ahmed] used to take me along with my two brothers to say Eid prayers at the Paltan Maidan. I used to join the prayer wearing punjabi like my brothers did. Later on, I used to go to say Eid prayer with my mother at Fazlul Haque Hall at Dhaka University where women from aristocratic families used to go.’
‘All the renowned personalities of the cultural arena used to gather at our house at noon to take homemade Eid special vermicelli. It was mandatory for us to visit the relatives but there was no tradition Eid time baksheesh. In the evening, we used to render songs in Eid reunion programmes organised in different areas,’ she added.
Ferdausi Rahman still remembers an Eid in her life when she did not get any new attire. ‘Father decided to donate the Eid budget to our poor relatives. Such decision of not giving us any new attire in Eid made me very sad. Sensing our sorrow, father said, “Come, I teach you a new song”. He taught me a Nazrul song “Nai holo ma bashon bhushan”. While teaching the song, he frequently looked on my face to see whether there was any change in my emotion. But, I had no change actually. In the Eid evening at a programme, he told me to sing the song and I rendered it with full emotion and received tremendous response from everyone’, Ferdausi Rahman told New Age.
In later years, Ferdausi Rahman had even a different emotion about Eid since BTV and Bangladesh Betar still play ‘O mon ramzaner oi rojar sheshey,’ rendered by her, just after the announcement of Eid.
Aly Zaker
Eid, however, had always been a great festival in renowned actor Aly Zaker’s childhood days. All his family members used to spend the time together with enthusiasm and festivity.
The festival, indeed, used to begin many days before the Eid. His mother used to take all of his siblings in a car for shopping in Patuatuli in old Dhaka. A tailor named Abdur Rashid used to make new attires for his siblings. ‘Mother, however, intentionally kept a few goods to be purchased in the “chand raat” [the night before Eid day] and we together went for shopping in the night. Usually she used to purchase spices from Kunjolal Preetambar Saha’s shop on Nawabpur road in chand raat,’ Aly Zaker said.
‘Like others, we used to take bath early in the morning. I still remember that we did not want to get down from the bed considering new clothes would become dirty. Father, however, use to force us to go the Eid prayer at Gendariya Play Ground,’ he added.
‘It was the family tradition to visit relatives to show respect to the elderly people and the relatives and friends used to visit our home on the Eid day,’ he added.
Aly Zaker, however, considers his Eid celebration a special one when he was allowed to fast for the first time. ‘Then I was 11 and I was allowed to fast on the 27th Ramadan. In fact, for the first time I and my sister observed fasting. Subsequently, like my elder brother, I was given a blue punjabi for Eid, though I used to get half-pants and half-sleeve shirt in Eid,’ Aly Zaker told New Age.
‘I was so excited on the Eid day that I took more food than normal. Ultimately I had a stomach upset and suffered afterwards, he added.
Lubna Marium
Seasoned dancer-choreographer Lubna Marium used to celebrate Eid in a joint family ambiance. Whenever the Eid approached, she along with her family used to go to her maternal grandfather’s home in Chittagong to celebrate the Eid with her relatives.
‘Usually we went to Chittagong two weeks before the Eid for the appropriate preparation. And this period was really exciting and I don’t see a touch of such enjoyment these days,’ Lubna Marium told New Age.
‘It was the tradition that new attires used to be made in home and guests would be entertained with homemade foods. All of my siblings and cousins used to plan together for the Eid celebration. And the Eid appeared as the greatest source for family entertainment for which we used to wait for the next year,’ she added.
-With New Age input
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