Readers reflect on Eid away from family

Dubai: The mention of Eid brings to mind time spent with the family. But there is a significant chunk of UAE residents who will be celebrating Eid Al Adha all alone, away from their families.

For Dubai resident Qaisar Khan this has become something of a habit, having lived in the UAE for over 20 years, while his wife and six children live in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

He said: "Obviously I miss the company of my loved ones and cultural beauty of Eid in Pakistan. The second day of Eid, which is usually the first day of Eid in Pakistan, is mostly spent talking on the phone with all my family members."

Road trips

But Eid is not a completely solitary event for Khan, as he plans road trips with his friends and spends time with them.

"We talk about what we used to demand as kids and what our kids demand nowadays. They are really interested in gadgets and other electronic items, and I usually get their demands well in advance," Khan said.

For Sharjah resident Syed Luqman Faraz, Eid in Dubai means missing out on the community gatherings and delicious food during Eid in Bengaluru, India.

"In India, there are thousands of people who gather for the Eid prayers and going back home is a two-hour affair, with my family making short visits to all the relatives on the way. You just can't beat that," he said.

Barbecue

While in the UAE, Faraz hopes to visit Fujairah with friends for a barbecue on the day of Eid. Most of his time over the holiday, however, will be spent studying for his postgraduate degree.

Scores of readers also wrote in to gulfnews.com, talking about how they planned to celebrate Eid. While most said that they would get together with friends and colleagues, others opted for some alone time.

A reader whose family is based in South Africa wrote: "As a single mum, I miss my family terribly [as] Eid has always been a family-oriented day back home. I find it difficult to spend it going to the mall or beach. Guess I shall run up my phone bill calling back home to feel the spirit."