AFTER fasting from dawn to dusk for a complete month, Muslims around the globe offer special prayers, thanking the Almighty for the blessings of Ramazan. They wear their best clothes, prepare special food and visit relatives and friends, celebrating Eid with joy and delight. They have all the reasons to celebrate the day with zeal and enthusiasm. But this year, things are a bit different.
Eidul Fitr, which is commonly known as ‘Mithi Eid’ is not exactly sweet. It has a tinge of melancholy, if not bitterness, about it. The memories of those who were amid us till recently and lost their battle against the wicked Covid haunt us as we go through the motions of Eid. Then there are those whose loved ones are struggling in hospitals or spending time in quarantines and isolation. Their Eid is all about worrying for their survival. And then, of course, there is the larger picture of a suffering global community engulfed by the cruel black clouds of the deadly pandemic.