The Spirit of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr 2021

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SACH celebrated and shared the spirit of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr with the Hopkinton community. 

All about Ramadan

The Spirit of Ramadan is a project to showcase how the holy month of Ramadan is celebrated leading up to the festive day of Eid. During the 4 weeks of Ramadan, SACH published videos submitted by the Muslim community of Greater Boston to showcase family traditions, types of food eaten during Ramadan to prepare for fasting and also to break the fast after sunset. 

  • Week 1 features one of our youngest members of the community reciting the story of Ramadan and a quick recipe of Fruit Chaat (spiced fruit salad) demonstrated by a member as a favorite Iftari item.
  • Week 2 of Ramadan features a popular dish 'Kebab' prepared for Iftar. Also meet a family sitting around the table and sharing their meal for Iftar. 
  • Week 3 of the 'Spirit of Ramadan' features a short clip on different rituals about Ramadan.
  • Week 4 of the 'Spirit of Ramadan' features seniors observing Ramadan rituals. Subra, a 79 yr old senior follows her daily Ramadan routine with vigor, starting with her pre-dawn meal or Suhoor. Also listen to a recipe on Dahi Vada (Lentil cakes soaked in Yogurt sauce)
Click on the link below to learn more about Iftar, Suhoor, Eidi and the significance of this festival and deeper meaning behind fasting. The significance of the moon during this festival is also explained here. 

www.southasiancircleofhopkinton.org/ramadan 



Chand Raat (Night of the Moon) and Eid Al-Fitr festivities

Chand Raat (Night of the Moon) is the eve of Eid Al -Fitr

After a month of fasting, on the last day of Ramadan, families and friends gather to spot the new moon, which signals the arrival of the Islamic month of Shawwal (the tenth month of the lunar calendar) and the day of Eid. Everyone wish each each other 'Chand Raat Mubarak' or 'Blessed New Moon' and the celebrations begin. 

The celebration of Chaand Raat holds both religious as well as social significance. Families and friends gather to sing and play instruments. People of all ages dance to various songs, including Bollywood music.

Friends and Families get dressed up with their best cultural outfits and jewelry



The morning of Eid: Prayers followed by Eid Milan

Families pray at home and then head to the mosque for communal prayers. People wear new clothes to mark a new beginning. After prayers, people hug each other as a cultural form of expressing love and brotherhood. This is refered to as Eid Milan. 

This tradition is followed mostly in the subcontinent of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh while other countries follow different traditions.

The Feast after the Fast

Throughout the day of Eid, people visit their friends and extended families who have parties and gatherings. Visitors flow in and out throughout the day to exchange greetings of Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid), gifts and eat food. 



Families decorate their yards with warm welcoming signs and beautiful decor and flowers. People either host these parties outside in their yard or inside. This year most families hosted outside due to Covid. 



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