Id Al Fiter is also spelled as Id al- Saghir and it is one of the most popular festivals in the Islamic community and one among the Kenya festival due to its Muslim majority next to Christians .The month of Ramadan (Muslim holy month of fasting) ends and the very next day Id Al Fiter is celebrated with great grandeur. Id Al Fiter is mainly celebrated during the first three days of “Shawwal” and it’s the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. Id Al Fiter literal meaning is the “festival of breaking the fast”. One connotation depicts that it’s the goodbye to the month of Ramadan as “fitr” means breaking, where as the other suggests that it is derived from the fitrah or “alms”.
Each and every festival has its own unique way of celebration so as Id Al Fiter has its own rituals. It’s mainly celebrated in a traditional Islamic way. People usually get up in early mornings, take bath, wears new clothes, applies perfume, have dates or some other sweets in the morning and heeds towards the mosques to offer prayer. Men are usually clothed in white all over as it symbolizes austerity. People give alms to the poor and downtrodden class according to the verdict of Quaran.
During Id Al Fiter “Do Rakat Namaz” which is Id-special prayer is offered in the morning in the Mosque. After that gifts are given to the needy person and that even has some laws according to the Quaran. The amount of stuffs to be donated is free from all encumbrances of debt. The person who donates the food grains should give 3.5 lb of wheat or its flour per head, 7lb of barley per head or has to pay the costs as per the need of the individual. “Do Rakat Namaz” can be read anytime between sunrise and just after the sunset.
The Ramadan fast is broken with lavish feasts on Id Al Fiter and people embrace each other and it’s the sign of brother hood and love among the individuals. Women prepare special dishes and home made sweets are must. Sweetened Vermicelli is a popular dish of Id Al Fiter and there is Id get together and socializing among the peoples. Id Al Fiter is a time when people forget there past grievances and pay homage to the ancestors. Id Al Fiter in Kenya is another public holiday among other Kenya holidays.
