~~~EID MUBARAK~~~

After the end of the Holy month of Ramadan & the end of Fasting, the Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on 21 September 2009...After seeing the moon, the government of Bangladesh announced that the most biggest occassion of the Muslims "Eid-ul Fitr" will be celebrated on 21 September 2009. According to the observation of the moon the people of Bangladesh started fasting from 23 August 2009.

Eid ul-Fitr or Id-ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr), often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fiṭr means "to break fast"; and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. It is celebrated after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal.



Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated in Bangladesh with great devotion. Everyone tries to dress well and prepares special dishes according to their ability on this day. Relatives and neighbors also share the joys of this festival with each other.

In Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal, the night before Eid is called Chand Raat which means, night of the moon. People often visit bazaars and shopping malls, with their families and children, for last minute Eid shopping. Women, especially young girls, often paint each others' hands with traditional "Mendi" and wear colorful bangles.

During Eid, the traditional greeting is Eid Mubarak, and frequently also includes a formal embrace. Gifts are frequently given—new clothes are traditional—and it is also common for children to be given small sums of money (Eidi) by their elders.It is common for children to "salam" parents and adult relatives, they usually get money from the adult relative, if the family is middle class or wealthy.

After the Eid prayers, it is common for families to visit graveyards and pray for the salvation of departed family members.

Special celebratory dishes in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh include sivayyan, a dish of fine, toasted sweet vermicelli noodles with milk & dried fruit. In Bangladesh, the dish is called shemai.

Some people also avail themselves of this opportunity to distribute Zakat, the Islamic obligatory alms tax on one's wealth, to the needy.

EID MUBARAK

...Ramadan Mubarak...

According to the observation of the moon the people of Bangladesh started fasting from 23 August Sunday...



Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان) (also written Ramazan, Ramzan,Ramadhan, Ramdan, Ramadaan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until sunset.

Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality. Ramaḍān is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of Allāh and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramaḍān, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.Ramadan was the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were claimed to have been revealed[Qur'an 2:185] to the Prophet Muhammad (SM) (Peace Be Upon Him).

During the Ramadan festival, adults will “fast” for a month. This means that during the day they will refrain from eating, but at night they are allowed to eat small meals. Ramadan in Bangladesh is also a time to strengthen bonds between friends and family and Muslims will often choose to use the opportunity to visit each other or get together for supper. Children are not forced to take part in the fasting aspect of this religious festival but their participation is encouraged.

Special dishes are prepared during the Fasting of Ramadan, such as “Jilapi” which is a sweet, “Piazu” which is made from onions and “Beguni”, which is a brinjal dish. The importance and dedication to the festival of Ramadan is confirmed by the fact that many parents name their children ‘Ramzan’, in honor of this religious festival.

Ramadan is a festival of giving, taking care of others and educating the community about the Islamic religion. It is a warm and inviting festival that Muslims in Bangladesh anticipate with great excitement each year.