MUSLIMS OF NEPAL
Nepali Muslims always are enjoying their biggest festival, Eid ul-Fitr,
the first day of the Arabic month of Shawwal when the crescent moon makes
its appearance. For the thousands of believers in the Islamic faith, the
month of Ramzan is a period of abstinence when Muslims observe Roza or the
fast from dawn to dusk. Muslims believe that Ramzan is the month when
their holy book Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed. Throughout this
month they practise abstinence so that the mind and the body is purified.
Eid signifies the end of the month-long fasting and a day to get the
blessings from Allah.
On
occasion of Eid ul-Fitr-festival, Nepali Muslims are eating delicious
things like sebai, (a milk delicacy). The young people are wearing new
cloths and getting pocket money from the elders. On the Eid day, the
average Muslim gets up before dawn, takes a bath, and gets into new
clothes before he heads for the local mosque for Namaaz, the Muslim
prayer. Then the whole day is spent in celebration, exchanging greetings
with friends and families for a propitious year. Most Kathmandu Muslims
will be observing their prayers at the two mosques - Jami and Kashmiri
Jami -near Ratna Park. 20,000-30,000 believers are expected in each of
these mosques every year. Before the prayers begin, each Muslim is
expected to pay Satkar Fitr, the alms for the month of Ramzan, which can
be either 2.45-kg wheat or money equal to that. This is different from the
usual Jakat, which is 2.5 percent of a Muslim's wealth that he gives away
to those in need.
The
festival is especially heartening for children and women, as they will be
at the receiving end of gifts. It's also mehndi time for the women, who
are busy making all kinds of patterns on their palms and feet.
The night of the festival eve is regarded as one of great sanctity. The faithful spend this night in prayers after taking the solemn bath (Ghusl). It is believed that one who offers six different prayers on this night will be pardoned off all sins.
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