Special times remembered

UAE residents describe the joys of sharing, caring and coming together during Eid.

When it comes to sharing Eid memories, there is no holding back. For Muslims around the world Eid is a time for happiness, for giving and sharing. While some remember Eid as a spiritual journey that comes as a fitting end to Ramadan, others associate it with tradition, new clothes, great food and gifts.

The aroma of roasted lamb, the sweet smell of coffee, the calls for prayer, the elaborate laying of dishes on the dinner table, the sight of the kahks on a crystal platter and the household bustling with activities are all the happy signs of Eid.

Even for the younger generation, who live away from family, Eid means going back to your roots and embracing what is essentially yours.

Yaqoob Al Ali, Liaison Manager, Intelligence Department of Dubai Customs, remembers Eid as a time when children from the neighbourhood would come to his house asking for Eidiyah and lots of goodies. "It was a regular feature in our house and we loved to treat them with sweets and money. It was also a time to visit the elderly members of the family. My home used to be full of friends, uncles and aunts, cousins and acquaintances. We would wait for the
special Eid dishes, such as the whole lamb stuffed with rice and the Harisa. I also remember eating together with the whole family. That was a wonderful feeling."

Today with life running in the fast last, Yaqoob feels there is no time to eat slowly, let alone with the family. "These days family members don't live close to each other, like they did earlier. People from the same community are also far away from each other. Brothers meet each other after so many days... it's really sad. But every Eid we do make it a point to come together and enjoy."

Maysoon Essa, Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman at the Emirates Investment Group, remembers Eid the way it used to be celebrated in Baghdad. "I am a Palestinian, born in Baghdad. Back home in Baghdad preparations for Eid began much before Ramadan was over. We would shop for new clothes, and my mother got busy cleaning the house. She would also start preparing the traditional sweets. Her home-made cookies or Kahks were famous and when family and friends visited us we greeted them with these. Buying sweets from local shops was unthinkable... you had to make it at home."

Essa also remembers the feeling of love and warmth in her home during those days. "It was a lovely feeling seeing my mother's face all lit up, laughing and greeting the guests. I used to greet my parents with a kiss and they gave me money to spend however I wanted to."

Today Essa feels that no matter how busy she is, Eid is a time for the immediate family and she tries to make it special for her husband and daughter. "I want to pass the traditions to my daughter. Here in Dubai we spend Eid with friends and end up going to shopping malls and hotels. It's not what it was when we were children. I want my four-year-old daughter to feel the spirit of Eid. Maybe I'll work on it this Eid and cook something special."

Laila Merchant, Managing Director of Rangamanch Dubai, who has been living in Dubai for the past ten years, fondly remembers Eid as a time for merriment back in India.

"We had great fun as kids. My cousins and friends came over and we went to this Eid mela (fair) where the one and only attraction was the giant wheel. The day used to buzz by and we used to wait patiently for lunch to be served. Biryani was a must-have. So was the sheer khurma (milk vermicelli), samosas and shamee kebabs. In India we just had a one-day break for Eid, but the whole atmosphere was very festive and it remained like that for almost a week after Eid was over."

Today Merchant spends Eid with her husband, son and daughter and close friends. "We still have biriyani for lunch and in the evenings we go for a barbecue in the park. For my son, Eid means holiday time when he gets loads of gifts to enjoy. But I make it a point to send him to recite the holy prayers with his father on this day. I think the basic things of life remain the same and Eid just strengthens our values and beliefs in our family and community."

Eighteen-year-old Lameese Hajissa at the American University of Sharjah, however, feels that Eid does not hold the same meaning for young people anymore.

"For our parents Eid was the only chance to buy new things such as clothes and accessories. But for my generation, it's different. We are constantly buying things and so getting something new on Eid has lost its meaning. Also I'd rather spend my time with friends than with family members whom I've never met. It's rather ironic that on Eid I am supposed to be happy, but never am." The only thing Lameese looks forward to during Eid is the chance to indulge in traditional sweets. "I love the Kahk and enjoy having it at this time of the year."