By Dr. Syed Ahmed,
Imphal: Id-ul-Fitr was celebrated on 31st August in the north-eastern state of Manipur. The auspicious occasion was celebrated in all the Muslim inhabited areas of the state with full religious fervor, pomp and gaiety.
The Muslims started the festivities from the early morning by taking sweet delicacies, which included sewai. Then Muslim men folk in kurta-pyjamas, sherwanis and jubas gathered at their local mosques for offering the special Id-ul-Fitr namaz at around nine. In the large Muslim inhabited areas namaz was offered at Idgahs. Special duas (supplications) were offered for the progress and prosperity of the Muslim community. Muslim families were also seen giving fitra (charity) to the poor.
In many of the Muslim localities, youths collected money from the local households and erected gates decorated with lights.
A gate specially prepared for the festival
After the namaz people greeted each other. Many Muslims visited the Qabarstans (graveyards) to perform ziyarat for their close relatives. Every Muslim household invited their near and dear ones for the special Id feast, which usually consists of the traditional Manipuri korma prepared with beef and chicken. Non-Muslim friends were also invited for the feast.
Muslims gathering at a pan-shop after Id namaz
Children greeting each-other after namaz
Young ones were given blessings by the elders. After the food, young children in their colourful dresses were seen visiting the houses of their friends and relatives to ask for edi (small amount of money given by elders).
Little girls on their way to collect edi
Children playing with toy guns
Children buying toy guns
In the evening, as a tradition, married Muslim women visited their natal house along with their husbands and children taking prepared meat, coconut, fresh fruits, especially apples, bananas, etc.
Various political leaders, parties and civil organizations of the state extended their warm greetings to the people, particularly the Muslims, on the auspicious occasion of Id-ul-Fitr.
The Governor and the Chief Minister of Manipur, as usual, also conveyed their greetings and best wishes to the people of Manipur, specially the Muslim brethren. In his message, Governor Gurbachan Jagat said that “the month-long fasting before the holy festival is an exhortation to mankind to perform deeds of high value, because, in doing so, the excellence of our souls is manifested in our lives….Id-ul-Fitr disseminates the message of peace, brotherhood and universal love which is the need of the hour in this trouble-torn society.” “Celebrating a festival like Id-ul-Fitr, the edifice of oneness gets strengthened and ill-will is forgotten and forgiven. Human beings inhabit a single planet and whole world is one family. On this auspicious occasion, let all of us resolve to preserve and proliferate the message of peace, friendship and universal love,” Jagat urged.
CM Okram Ibobi Singh, conveying his greetings and good wishes to the people, noted that Id-ul-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramzan and it symbolizes compassion, brotherhood and the spirit of sharing. May the noble ideals of Id-ul-Fitr fills our lives with peace, prosperity and harmony and promote fraternity among the people of the state, he added in his message.
One of the prominent bodies of Muslim students in the state, Pangal Students’ Organization (PSO) greeted the people, especially of Muslim community in the state on the occasion of Id-ul-Fitr. PSO also appealed to the Muslim youths to abstain from taking any form of intoxicating drugs and not to involve in any sort of un-Islamic activities on the auspicious occasion of Id-ul-Fitr.
With the aim of propagating the message of communal harmony in the state, over the years, various civil society organizations and student bodies of Muslims in the state have been celebrating the festival by inviting different community leaders from different parts of the state. The gatherings prayed to Allah to bring peace, prosperity and tranquility in the state.
As assembly elections in the state are tentatively fixed in February 2012, many political parties, MLAs, Ministers and even prospective candidates, including non-Muslims, were also seen distributing items such as rice, sugar, dates (khajur) and money in the Muslim localities.