A celebration for people of all faith

As a Muslim, I eagerly wait for the Eid holidays all year. Even though chaand raat shopping, new outfits or countless itineraries are a big part of Eid, what adds most to the flavour of the celebration is gatherings with family, friends, and all our loved ones.

My father's non-Muslim colleagues often pay us a visit on the day, brimmed with passion and enthusiasm. We all sit together and feast on the traditional delicacies that have been prepared with a lot of care and attention. It is also a day when I get to meet a lot of individuals my age because of my dad's friends. As a result, Eid usually offers me new friends. This has been a custom in my family for as long as I can remember.

After the Eid holidays, I used to bring a large five-tier tiffin carrier filled with jorda to the school office room for all my teachers. In exchange, I would receive sweets and candies. Even after stepping into the university life, a teacher from my high school, hailing from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, continues the ritual of celebrating Eid with me.

Once, while heading for Bangla class, the same teacher handed me a package, in which my mother had earlier sent her food. This was ridiculed by some of my classmates, stating her ethnicity and religious beliefs. However, that didn't bother me or my family.

Another day, the teacher stopped by after attending a prayer meeting at a church and brought us a small trinket with a picture of Jesus Christ on it. I was hesitant to accept it, but my father insisted that I do so because it was a gift.

Although much has changed over the years, the essence of the Eid celebrations at my home has remained the same. The responsibility for inviting guests for some shemai has now been transferred to me, and it is interesting to see that the spirit of the celebration has so far been carried on by my friends of other faiths, as my Muslim friends are preoccupied with the festivities taking place at their own homes.

Despite the passage of time, my best friend from school, who is a Hindu, is still the first to remind me that her portion ofshemai should not be overlooked. During Eid, the quest of "fasting to feasting" becomes complete as our families relish the glistening Eid items or desert delights, setting aside all kinds of political and religious disputes.

It is impossible for me to picture my Eid celebrations taking place without the participation of my non-Muslim peers. I owe much of my Eid delight to them.

Shadya Naher Sheyam attempts to live life like Ashima from The Namesake. Talk to her about Mira Nair films at fb.com/sadia.nahar