A DAY OF FESTIVITY SPEECH

A day of festivity (Eid-ul-Fitre) is an expression of unceasing feelings well up inside the believer's hearth for his Lord.

Mr. President and worthy audience, we are all aware that Eid is the most memorable day of the year, and it is celebrated at the end of the holy month of Ramadan by the Muslim community with due reverence and great pomp and show. Eid-ul-Fitre means breaking of fast, in Arabic is the day of praying, donating to the deserving donees, feasting and rejoicing. Eid is derived from the Arabic word 'oud' or the return to signify rightly the return of Eid for the year to come. Fitre means to sacrifice for the welfare of the poor, the needy and those who are leading a humdrum sort of existence. We must be generous in helping the grieved people in order to receive its reward of mercy from Almighty Allah on the Day of Judgement.

Sir, on the eve of Eid, all the markets stay open late at night and early hours of the morning to cater to people's needs and requisites. Families rush to markets to buy new clothes, new shoes, bangles, artificial jeweler and the girls specially decorate their hands with 'henna'. Tailors, barbers, shopkeepers and vendors raise their rates with a view to earn profit to the fullest extent on this favorable occasion. Women look busy at home in preparing 'Sewaiyaan', the special and traditional sweet dish of Eid and other eatables while men proceed to Eidgah or the nearby largest mosque to offer congregational prayer in individual dresses. Dr. Sr Muhammad Iqbal in one of his famous couplets said:

"stood in the same row Mahmud and Ayyaz difference between the Lord and the Slave there is none." Mahmud of Ghazni - the great conqueror who invaded India twelve times in the first half of the 11th century and his slave Ayyaz offered their prayers standing in the same row.

After offering the prayer, the embrace each other warmly , greet a happy Eid and then head back home to accomplish family and social duties. The little angles are very much anxious for the return of their elders to demand Eidee and after amassing hefty amount during Eid, enjoy spending Eidee according to their own whim and gaiety. On the other hand, the weeper, chowkidar, washer-man all take turn to appear before the doorstep and wait patiently for Eidee as a matter of their ritual right. Later on, the people visit friends and relatives where some marvelous dishes including 'siwayaan' are served to them.

Worthy President, Eid is indeed and exhilarating moment for all, particularly those who had been fasting over the month. Eid-ul-Fiter symbolizes amity, joy and rejuvenation. This festival is surely enjoined on us to strive for a conflict-free atmosphere. This is a time for peace for all the Muslims in the world to devote themselves to prayers and mutual well-being.