Abu Dhabi/Dubai: Shortly after the sun peeked above the eastern horizon on Wednesday morning, countless worshippers across the UAE spilled into mosques and open prayer areas to usher in the three-day Eid Al Fitr festival.
The faithful gave thanks to God (Allah) during Eid congregational sermons the morning after spending a month of abstinence from consuming food and drinks from sunrise to sunset.
In the early quietness of Eid Al Fitr morning, people embraced one another in the spirit of joy and faith.
In homes across the country, Eid Al Fitr’s dawn saw family members preparing traditional breakfast and lunch for the yearly festival gatherings, a special time to renew family ties, catch up with friends and partake in Eidiya, the sharing of gifts with children.
Eid Al Fitr (the festival of breaking the fast) is the first day of the 10th Islamic month of Shawwal and signalled the start of a two-day private sector holiday.
While many UAE residents have chosen to stay at home for the festival, others are making traditional Eid sojourns to local beaches and hotel resorts on UAE coasts.
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A man exchanges warm greetings with a child, possibly his son or relative, after the Eid Al Fitr prayer outside Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News |
Some families embarked yesterday on their annual Eid weekend respite to Oman along the Arabian Sea.
Donning new clothes — symbolic for some of a fresh start — the best part of the festival is rediscovering the closeness and security of family, people said.
Maitha Al Mohammad, 28, Emirati, said it was heart-warming to see first-hand her immediate and extended family assembled together under one roof.
“Eid is one of the few times in the year when I get the chance to see the whole family. I spent the morning visiting the homes of my family elders, and by noon, relatives came from Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai to pay their respects to my grandfather, as he’s the head of the family,” she said.
“Over the next three days, Eid will be spent with family, close friends and loved ones,” Mohammad told Gulf News.
Ayesha Ebrahim, 36, Emirati, also revelled in the sense of celebration.
“As a mother, Eid is the perfect time to show my family how much I love them,” said Ebrahim. “During the rest of the year, I don’t get as much time to spend with my two teenage sons, or with my brothers and sisters, because of our busy schedules.
“We all exchanged gifts and caught up with each other. The day was all about food. We spent the rest of the day enjoying quality time with our family and relatives,” she said.
Noushad Aziz, from India, is spending the occasion with close friends and family.
“I went for the Eid morning prayer, and later in the day there was the family gathering for lunch. Taking the weather into consideration, most of the plans were to stay indoors with family. Eid is the perfect time to catch up,” he said.
Aziz is planning on heading out to the Northern Emirates or Al Ain after the first day of Eid. “These types of holidays are always a good opportunity for sightseeing around the UAE,” he added.
Bilal Khalil, from Lebanon, enjoys celebrating Eid by going out because of the festive atmosphere.
“I like to go to the mall because I see so many people shopping with their families — it’s a nice feeling to see everyone happy and enjoying the holidays,” he said. “I don’t buy new things over the Eid now; it was something I did up to my early teens. Now, it’s more about appreciating the occasion.”
The greatest gift, Khalil said, is the time to reconnect with friends. “During the evening, my friends and I get together to celebrate the holiday.”
