Everyone has a plan for Eid
It's a big day on Friday for Muslims after the month-long fast and readers share how they plan to spend the rest of the holidays
Dubai: It's a big day on Friday for Muslims after the month-long fast and for many ,preparations for Eid had been in full swing even as Ramadan was drawing to a close.
Emirati Maryam Othman had purchased clothes for her children many days ago. The director of Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre said she usually travels at this time of the year but will be spending time with family and friends here in Dubai this time round.
"The first day of Eid is for visiting relatives, and our grandmother. Then our family will have lunch together," she said. "This is a good time to socialise and meet with friends." She has also planned a two-day "staycation" for her children at Atlantis.
Filipina Khadijah Sali is planning to laze on the beach during the holidays. "The weather now seems beach-friendly," she said. The senior correspondent of a local TV channel said the last weeks had been busy despite the slow-pace of Ramadan. She said she was looking forward to sizzling some steaks and mashed potatoes.
Indian expatriate Saman Ahmad says the festivities start soon after the Eid prayers. "After namaz we all get ready by 8.30am and will be off to visit the elder brother-in-law."
Then she plans to visit other relatives in Sharjah by the time the traffic builds up. On the second day she keeps an open house for her friends. Food plays a big part in the festivities with ‘sevian' [sweet vermicelli], kebabs and pasta for the kids.
"We had done our shopping for clothes much earlier," she said adding that she however gave in to the demands of the children and went shopping for shoes.
Rima Slim, a Lebanese expatriate, said she usually plans for the Eid before the start of Ramadan.
"We plan for a short get-away and this time time we are spending two days in Fujairah." Eid is usually about meeting relatives and friends, but she and her husband do not have any relations in Dubai and it's totally different here, she said.
Back home she would get up early for visits to relatives and friends. "We usually make ‘mamoul' [a pastry filled with date paste or pistachios]. I have great memories of Eid in my childhood."
