A Colorful Eid: Afghanistan's Festive Traditions And Celebrations

Eid al-Fitr is a significant religious holiday for Muslims in Afghanistan, marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is celebrated for three days, with people offering Eid prayers and then gathering with their families. It is customary to wear new clothes, eat sweets and snacks, and greet each other with Eid Mubarak. Children receive gifts and money from their elders, and people visit friends and family. The festival also includes special festivities for children, such as lighting campfires around houses and celebratory fire with automatic rifles.

Eid al-Fitr is a public holiday in Afghanistan

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims in Afghanistan and around the world. The festival is also known as the "Festival of Breaking the Fast" and is an important religious holiday. It falls on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar, which does not always fall on the same Gregorian date as it is dependent on the sighting of the new moon.

The date of Eid al-Fitr in Afghanistan for 2024 is Wednesday, April 10, and it will be celebrated as a national holiday for three days. The dates for 2025 are tentatively set for March 31 to April 2.

On the day of Eid al-Fitr, Afghans offer their Eid prayers and then gather with their families. They greet each other with "Eid Mubarak", and children receive gifts and money from their elders. It is also common to visit friends and extended family, and children go from house to house, receiving cookies or sweets.

Afghans also wear new clothes to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, and it is customary to eat something sweet on the way to the mosque, such as a date. Henna "tattoos" are also popular during the festival, with young girls and women adorning their hands and feet with intricate designs.

The celebration of Eid al-Fitr in Afghanistan is a joyous and festive occasion, with special significance given to children and the youngest members of families.

Muslims celebrate with a special Eid prayer

Eid al-Fitr is a very important festival in Afghanistan, with the country celebrating it widely for three days. The festival marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and prayer.

Muslims celebrate Eid with a special Eid prayer called "Salat Al Eid" in Arabic. This prayer is performed in congregation in an open area such as a field, community centre, or mosque. The prayer consists of two units called "Rakat". There is no audible call to prayer for the Eid prayers. The prayers are followed by a sermon, or "khutbah", in which the imam asks for forgiveness, mercy, and peace for every being across the world. The sermon also instructs Muslims on the performance of Eid rituals, such as the zakāt.

The Eid prayer starts with the Niyyah, or intention, followed by five Takbirs. During each Takbir of the first rakat, a special Dua is recited. The Imam then recites Sūrat al-Fātiḥah and Surat Al-'A`lá, and the congregation performs Ruku and Sujud as in other prayers. In the second Rakat, the same steps are repeated. After the prayer, the Khutbah begins.

New clothes are worn, and gifts are exchanged

In Afghanistan, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated with new clothes, gifts, and festivities for children. It is customary to wear a new piece of clothing for the event, often in the form of traditional Afghan garb. Each of Afghanistan's 14+ ethnicities has its own form of ethnic dress, which varies in beading and embroidery styles. For example, the nomadic Kuchi people of the Pashtun ethnicity are famous for their use of coins in clothing. Women wore coins in their clothing to ward off evil and ensure fertility.

On the day of Eid al-Fitr, Afghans first offer their Eid prayers and then gather in their homes with their families, greeting one another by saying "Eid Mubarak". Family elders will give money and gifts to children. It is also common to visit friends and families, and children walk from home to home saying "Khala Eidet Mubarak" ("aunt happy Eid") and receiving cookies or Pala.

In other countries, new clothes are also worn to celebrate Eid. In Saudi Arabia, Oman, Palestine, and Jordan, new clothes and shoes are prepared for the festival. In Tanzania, locals buy new clothing, and women shop for handbags, necklaces, and other accessories. In Turkey, people wear their best clothes, often purchased just for the occasion. In Kyrgyzstan, people wear fancy and bright clothes. In Tajikistan, the holiday is marked by wearing new clothes.

Families feast together

Eid al-Fitr is a significant celebration in Afghanistan, observed for three days. It is a time when families feast together, sharing "Eid cuisine", which gives the holiday the nickname "Sweet Eid" or "Sugar Feast".

On the day of Eid, Afghans first offer their Eid prayers and then gather in their homes with their families. It is customary to wear new clothes for the event, and to eat something sweet, such as a date, on the way to the mosque.

Afghans start preparing for the Eid al-Fitr festival up to ten days in advance by cleaning their homes, a practice called "Khana Takani" in Dari. They visit their local bazaars to buy new clothes, sweets, and snacks, including Jalebi, Shor-Nakhod (made with chickpeas), Cake wa Kolcha (a simple cake, similar to pound cake), and the traditional Bolani (vegetarian flatbreads).

On the day of Eid, family elders give money and gifts to children. Children walk from home to home saying "Khala Eidet Mubarak" ("aunt happy Eid"), and they receive cookies or Pala.

The celebration of Eid al-Fitr in Afghanistan is a joyous and festive occasion, with families coming together to share food, exchange gifts, and celebrate the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan.

It is customary to give money to the poor

In Afghanistan, Eid al-Fitr is a significant celebration that is observed for three days. It is a religious holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

A key element of the Eid al-Fitr celebrations is the giving of money to the poor, known as Zakat al-Fitr. This act is considered an obligatory form of alms-giving or charity in Islam, intended to enable those in need to join the Eid festivities. The amount of Zakat al-Fitr is typically calculated based on the individual's possessions, with the minimum amount being one sa' (approximately 2.6-3 kg or 6 lbs) of food, grain, or dried fruit for each family member, or its equivalent value in money.

Zakat al-Fitr is often paid before the Eid prayers and is distributed to the poor and needy within the community. This act of giving is seen as a way to purify those who fast during Ramadan and to promote gratitude towards Allah for the strength and self-control granted during the month of fasting.

In Afghanistan, Eid al-Fitr is a time when people visit their local bazaars to purchase new clothes, sweets, and snacks. They gather with their families, exchange greetings, and celebrate with feasts. The elders in the family give money and gifts to the children, and it is also common to visit friends and extended family.

The celebration of Eid al-Fitr in Afghanistan is a joyous occasion filled with traditions and a spirit of giving, where the act of donating money to the poor holds a significant role in bringing happiness to those in need during the festive period.

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