Early morning..

After sahur, the last fasting of Ramadan 1437 H,


We're welcoming Eid-al-Fitr 1437 H, an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting(sawm). Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for one, two or three days. Muslims are encouraged on this day to forgive and forget any differences with others or animosities that may have occurred during the year.


in Indonesia, Eid is known as Hari Raya Idul Fitri (or more popularly as Lebaran) and is a national holiday. Shopping malls and bazaars are usually filled with people to get things for Lebaran such as; new clothes, shoes, sandals, and even food to serve days ahead of Idul Fitri, which creates a distinctive festive atmosphere throughout the country, along with traffic mayhem. Many banks, government and private offices are closed for the duration of the Lebaran festivities.

One of the largest temporary human migrations globally is the prevailing custom of the Lebaran where workers particularly return to their home town or city to celebrate with their families and to ask forgiveness from parents, in-laws, and other elders.

The night before Idul Fitri is called takbiran, it is filled with the sounds of many muezzin chanting the takbir in the mosques or musallahs, people usually fill the street and also chanting takbir. In many parts of Indonesia, especially in the rural areas, obor (torches) anddamar/pelita (oil lamps) are lit up and placed outside and around homes. Also, during takbiran, people usually light various firecrackers orfireworks.

On the Lebaran day, after performing Eid prayer in the morning, people dressed in their new or best clothes will gather to greet their family and neighbours. It is common to greet people with "Selamat Idul Fitri" which means "Happy Eid". Muslims also greet one another with"mohon maaf lahir dan batin", which literally means "Please forgive (me) outwardly and internally", because Idul Fitri is not only for celebrations but also a time for atonement to ask for forgiveness for sins which they may have committed but were cleansed as a result of the fasting in the Muslim month of Ramadan. During this Eid morning to afternoon, the zakat alms for the poor are usually distributed in the mosques.
Families usually will have special Lebaran meal; special dishes will be served such as ketupat, opor ayam, rendang, sambal goreng ati, sayur lodeh and lemang (a type ofglutinous rice cake cooked in bamboo). Various types of kue, cookies and dodol sweet delicacies are also served during this day. Younger families usually visit their older neighbours or relatives to wish and greet them a Happy Eid also to ask for forgiveness. Idul Fitri is a very joyous day for children as adults give them money in colourful envelopes.

Eid Mubarak.. Happy Eid!
May the blessing of Allah fill your life with pleasure and open all the doors of success now and always.

Have a nice day, blipchums! x