Muslims will celebrate Eid-al-Fitr on Monday, marking the end of the month of Ramadan.
Although COVID-19 restrictions have eased, many in Australia will be observing this holy holiday without their family or community.
Highlights
- The three-day celebration of Eid-al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan
- This special feast marks the end of 30 days of fasting and caps off a month of reflection and restraint
- For international students unable to return home, it can be a period of loneliness
Eid-al-Fitr is called meethi Eid, or ‘sweet Eid’, in Pakistani tradition – a name fitting not only for the sweet dishes enjoyed on this cherished occasion, but also the warm relationships nurtured.
A group of female Pakistani students at UNSW in Sydney, unable to visit their loved ones back home, find solace in each other’s company.
“When I came here [Australia] in 2019, I lived with a family in a distant suburb in Sydney and spent my Eid with them. It was a relatively boring and lonely Eid as I was new here and missing my family dearly,” PhD student Madeeha Afzal tells SBS Urdu.
Madeeha explains that shifting to shared accommodation with other Pakistani women from her university totally changed her experience of Eid in Australia.
“My second Eid was with my colleagues and friends from university. This time I enjoyed it because all of us shared similar feelings of joy and grief, so we got together, did preparations and tried to harness the utmost joy of Eid.” 
Worshippers participate in Eid al-Fitr prayers, signifying the end of the holy month of Ramadan, at the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney Source: AAP
In Islam, Eid-al-Fitr is celebrated after the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims around the world fast from dawn till sunset.
On the last evening of Ramadan, people go moon-sighting to spot the Shawaal crescent. Once it is sighted, the celebrations for chaandraator (moon night) begin followed by an early morning Eid prayer in mosques and musallahs the next day.
Unlike in Pakistan, where people may then spend the daytime sleeping only to wake up in the evening to visit family and friends, these students offer an Eid namaz (prayer) before returning to their rooms and preparing meals for an evening get-together.
These students in Sydney take a potluck party approach: no one is a guest and no one is the host. Each member of the group is responsible for preparing a delicacy.
Master's student Sidra Jillani, who has been living in Sydney for the last five years, says, “We prepare Eid-specific meals, wear new clothes, apply henna and wear bangles, and try to enjoy Eid in its true spirit.”
A Pakistani Eid feast Source: Supplied
Other than staying at home and enjoying each other’s company, the students say it’s common for them to plan other hang outs at Eid.
“It is mandatory to watch a movie and go on a picnic on Eid day,” says Rabia Mobeen, another student who is gearing up for her sixth Eid with friends in Australia.
Sidra says window-shopping is another fun activity at this time.
“We discuss products, pretending we are experts. I know it sounds naïve, but this is how it is.”
Madeeha, on the other hand, is very fond of taking pictures.
“We pose for the cameras and conduct our own photo sessions. We take pride in our traditional attire and make special preparations to look our best on Eid day, so it would be unfair not to take some photos.”
The women also take great pride in sharing the message of Eid with others.
“Last year we took Eid-specific sweets like sawaiyaan (vermicelli), gulab jaman (sweet dumplings) and shahi tukday (bread pudding), as well as bangles and henna cones, to our university and shared our delight with our colleagues, supervisors and other professors,” shares Mahjabeen Khan, a post-doctoral candidate.
Some professors had their hands tattooed with henna. They appreciated our humble effort. It was a fun-filled day where we all sat together and shared laughs. It was our little effort to spread the message of Eid and create awareness about it.
The Pakistani students share their celebrations with students of other countries as well.
Tasmia Zaman hails from Bangladesh and has a close friendship with her Pakistani companions.
“Every year I join my friends from Pakistan at their home for Eid dinner or lunch. We share laughs, our stories, and our research. Our delicacies are similar so we enjoy each other’s cuisines as well. They are like my family away from home.”
International female students find solace in each other’s company on heartfelt occasions like Eid. Source: Supplied by Fatma Tamseel
Tasmia explains that some years it can be difficult to work around everyone’s busy schedule.
“It is not always that we celebrate Eid on the very day, sometimes we have to pick a weekend, which is normally the next weekend after Eid, to celebrate and sit together.
“Each one of us has our different study hours, assignment deadlines, meetings and tasks. We all understand these limitations and amicably decide on a common day and place to enjoy our Eid,” she says.
Madeeha sums up the group’s outlook, “Even though we celebrate Eid together here, our hearts beat with our loved ones in Pakistan.”
