Ramadan – ‘Eid-ul-Fitr’ (also known as Ramazan or Ramadhan) is the “festival of breaking the fast” celebrated by Muslims the world over, bringing to an end the Islamic holy month of fasting, known as Ramadan. Celebrated on a single day, Eid is an important holiday of religious significance for followers of the Islamic faith. It is a popular tradition among Muslims in Sri Lanka who live in and around Colombo to assemble at the Galle Face Green for prayers on the morning of the Eid holiday. Others visit Mosques and prayer halls close to their homes to offer prayers of thanksgiving.

Muslims begin the day of celebration by waking up before sunrise to clean their teeth and shower. Thereafter they join in the prayers and festivities dressed in their best clothes and anointed with perfume. This day signals the culmination of 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-dusk fasting by Muslims all over the world, and according to convention, no one is permitted to fast on Eid.

What this day means…

The period of Ramadan, lasting one month, is a time when Muslims maintain a dawn-to-dusk fast daily in order to increase their spiritual devotions, and as a mark of obedience and servitude to Allah. It is a time to show gratitude to Him for material and spiritual favours granted and asking for forgiveness of past sins. Furthermore, the fasting period also enables Muslims to focus on the spiritual aspects of their lives rather than the physical, creating a much stronger bond between the individual and his Lord.

On a communal level, the Ramazan month promotes the basic values of Muslim society, some of which are charity and empathy for the poor, reverence, patience and steadfastness.

Celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr

The exact day for celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr is determined by local religious authorities, based on their sighting of the new moon at the end of the Ramadan month. For this reason the date may vary according to the locality, but it is generally the norm in most countries that the festival is celebrated on the same day as Saudi Arabia. Eid is a day for eating, drinking and celebrating with one’s family and loved ones and everyone is encouraged to wear new clothes, or the best they have. Going beyond these more obvious celebrations, a point of focus on this day is towards giving gifts, especially to children. Likewise, giving to the poor and needy is of utmost importance to Muslims celebrating the Eid festival.

Celebrating Eid in Sri Lanka

Muslims visiting Sri Lanka during the month of Ramadan will find an array of choices when it comes to Suhoor and Iftar meals, with all leading Hotels in the island dishing out a sumptuous spread. Contact us with your requirements and preferences, and be assured that we will make the necessary arrangements to meet with your satisfaction. We look forward to sharing Eid-ul-Fitr in Sri Lanka with you and your family, and invite you to join us for a delightful and enriching experience.