With the moon being sighted on Tuesday, thousands of Muslims across the city prepared to celebrate Id-ul-Fitr on Wednesday, with mosques and idgahs racing against time to get decked up for the breaking of the fast.
The Moon Sighting Committee, Bangalore, said the moon was sighted on Tuesday evening, and Eid-ul-Fitr would be celebrated on Wednesday, marking the end of fasting during the holy month of Ramzan.
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Fruit vendors, flower sellers, eateries on wheels, and stalls selling various knick-knacks — from bangles to shoes to clothes — jostled with each other to get a prime spot next to mosques and maidans in K.R. Market, Shivajinagar, Millers Road, Tannery Road, Jayanagar 4th Block, K.R. Road and Mysore Road. Malls and commercial complexes witnessed huge footfalls as frantic people did last-minute shopping. While the well-heeled thronged posh jewellery outlets, those with leaner wallets bought more modest but no less thoughtful gifts from the numerous small stores.
The preparation for Eid-ul-Fitr not only involves hectic shopping but also an extensive menu planning.
“We will be having friends and family over, for which cooking takes most of the morning and afternoon during Eid,” said Parveen Sultana, homemaker.
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Her menu for the evening includes murgh mussallam, chicken biryani, sheer korma and sweet seviyyan (vermicelli).
“We've stored up on meat so that we don't have to buy any on Eid day when the prices balloon,” she said.
Mohammad Basha, a mechanic in Sanjaynagar, said at 10.30 a.m., he and the men in the household will congregate in Shivajinagar for the Eid namaz. “All our close relatives will come to my house, and we will invite the neighbours also for the feast,” he said.
His wife spent most of Tuesday making falooda and jamun. “What we have fasted in the month, we will eat in the three days of celebrations,” he jested.
In the spirit of charity by the Quran, Mr. Basha said the family plans to give money and clothes to the poor in his neighbourhood.