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 One of the most popularly celebrated Muslim festivals in India is Eid-ul-Fitr. Celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, this festival falls on the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, which follows the month of Ramadhan. Ramadhan is the month of fasting, which is observed with great sanctity by the Muslims. The beginning of the Ramadhan month is marked by the sight of the new crescent.
Eid-ul-Fitr Festival is such an important festival to the Muslims because it is the festival of the fast breaking. This festival calls for festivity and joy. People wait for this day for the whole one month. During this festival, the whole family gets reunited and celebrates the festival with great fervor. Eid-ul-Fitr signifies thanksgiving to Almighty God.
To mark this auspicious day, people engage themselves in various charity works, which they term as Zakat. Early in the morning, people get prepared for the festival and put on new holiday dress and apply a perfume. Then they gather for the community prayer. Before the prayer, they have sweets and dates, which is a part of the ritual. After the prayer to Allah gets over, they greet each other by saying "'Eid mubarak," or "a blessed 'Eid".
While going to the prayer, they recite Takbir in the low voice. During the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer, they recite prayers in the devotion and greatness of Allah. On the recitation of the prayer, there are specific rules which should be followed. The Eid prayer is obligatory on every male Muslim. One can pray at any time between the Ishraq and Zawal. The prayer of the Eid should be performed on an open field or an open area.
On the day of the Eid-ul-Fitr, voluntary prayers can be recited only after the Eid prayer. No one is allowed to pray in his or her home or mosque before the Eid prayer. After the Eid prayer gets over, one can also perform the Nafl prayer but not at the same place, where the Eid prayer was observed.
Eid-ul-Fitr is a much awaited festival by the Muslims. After the prayers gets over the whole day is spent in celebration and distribution of sweets to the friends and relatives.
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