Revival of Eid cards

It may seem unbelievable to the Social Media generation but even a few decades ago the tradition of exchanging greetings through cards on Eid was a much cherished one. Greetings are now limited to exchanges on social media and text messages, and the long practice of using cards to express emotions, almost a passé. 

"When I was a child, colourful art paper were not as widely available as they are now. So we used to stock up on old wedding cards and recycle into Eid cards later," said Ashoka Mahbuba while sharing her childhood memories from the '80s. 

"Sometimes, there were greetings written on those wedding cards. So we used to cut the relevant parts and doodle on them," she further added. 

Both store-bought and handmade Eid cards were hugely popular.  They used to be made by folding art paper featuring images of mosques, the crescent and the moon in bright colours. Another popular method was to use dried petals and leaves to decorate cards. 

Speaking of handmade cards, the material most widely used were paper, brightly coloured pens, crayons, and at times, discarded bright stones from old dresses! Pre-printed cards were also widely available in the market and they catered to people who were in the habit of sending greetings on a bulk. There were even collectors who had the passion to keep them as collectibles. After decades of near non-existence, greeting cards are experiencing a revival. Thanks to DIY tutorials available on YouTube, or ideas pinched by Pinterest and Instagram the younger people are once again enthusiastic about customising Eid cards.

The exchange of cards is not just a tradition of swapping Eid goodies; it is an exchange of emotions and letting loved ones know that you care; care enough to spend some time making something that relays your love and affection, no matter how simple or grand the appearance maybe.

By Mahmud Hasan Reaz

Photo courtesy: Mahmud Hasan Reaz