Breakin' Away

Last night marked the end of Ramadan and the start of the festival of Eid Al Fitr.  This three day 'festival of breaking of the fast' is one of the most important dates in the Islamic calendar.  It begins at the crack of dawn on the day after Ramadan (which is today), which is also the first day of the month of Shawaal, and starts with all Muslims performing Zakat Al Fitr.  This means each head of house pays on behalf of their family members and feeds the number of poor people equal to the number of people in their family  The Eid prayers also take place where the whole town comes out to perform wearing their new Eid outfits, celebrating the occasion of the sunrise.  Afterwards they begin visiting immediate family members, starting with the eldest in the family, and pretty much do that all day.  Streets, houses and shopping malls are all lit up like Christmas, and apparently there is a real sense of fun and festivity, helped by suddenly not being permitted to fast.

For us however, Eid means the end of iftar feasts being delivered to our door :( the pedicure place taking 9am appointments again, and the start of a two-week trip to Sri Lanka :)  So we'll catch up with you again when we're all turtle-hatchery-old-fort-tea-plantation-train-ride-relic of the sacred tooth-sunbathe-snorkel-safari-rock-climb-elephant-orphanaged out.

Eid Mubarak!