Multiple celebrations.. this is how Iranians celebrate Eid al-Fitr

TEHRAN -

After spending a whole month in the hospitality of God, Iranian society is experiencing the days of the blessed Eid al-Fitr in an atmosphere full of joy and pleasure.

Shortly after the announcement of the Shawwal crescent moon, the streets of the capital, Tehran, are crowded, and fasting people go to sweets and pastries shops to celebrate the holiday.

Although the Corona pandemic has disturbed the atmosphere of celebration of fasting people during the past two years, the decline in the severity of the epidemic in recent months has given Iranians a better atmosphere to celebrate Eid this year.

Eid al-Fitr prayers in the city of Ahvas, southwest of Iran (Al-Jazeera)

And on the morning of the blessed Eid al-Fitr, Tehran hosted the largest gathering in Iran, where the Eid al-Fitr prayer was held, accompanied by songs, the distribution of sweets and the exchange of congratulations.

Diverse nationalities and traditions

Because of the multiplicity of nationalities and ethnicities in Iran, the traditions and rituals of Eid al-Fitr differ from one province to another over the official holiday of the occasion, which has become two days since 2011, but in Arab regions it begins days before the blessed Eid and continues a week after it.

Young men celebrate Eid al-Fitr in the city of Ahvas, southwestern Iran (Al-Jazeera)

Arabs of Iran

In the city of Ahvas and other Arab regions in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, Eid al-Fitr is the biggest holiday, and they are preparing to celebrate it during the last week of the blessed month of Ramadan.

By cleaning homes and changing their furniture, as well as buying Eid clothes and sweets, and providing everything they need to receive guests.

The Arabs of Iran dedicate the last two days of the blessed Ramadan to preparing homes to receive guests, and they call “Umm al-Wusakh” - in Persian - on the penultimate day and “Umm al-Hilas” on the last day of the holy month;

They clean and prepare the houses and prepare themselves well the day before Eid.

After the Arabs of Iran suffered from the tightening of the Pahlavi regime, which had imposed the monotheistic dress and language on all races and nationalities in the country, they found in the Islamic Republic, which is concerned with Islamic occasions, an outlet to highlight their Arab identity and to wear their popular costumes such as the shedasha, the keffiyeh and the iqal.

Ahwazis roam the streets to exchange congratulations on Eid al-Fitr (Al-Jazeera)

Loud Arab celebrations

Shops selling Arab fashion in Ahvas have been witnessing a steady increase in recent years, especially after the Iranian Ministry of Heritage and Handicrafts registered in 2020 the Arab dress as an official dress for Ahwazis.

After seeing the crescent of Eid, the loudspeakers are raised through loudspeakers in mosques, and in some Arab villages the investigation of the crescent is announced by shooting towards areas devoid of residents.

On the morning of Eid al-Fitr, Ahwazis - like other Arab citizens who live on some Iranian islands such as Qeshm and Kish - are keen to participate in the Eid prayer wearing Arab clothes.

As soon as the Ahwazi Arabs finish the Eid prayer, they rush to perform their traditional ritual known as the hussa or the hymn, which combines recitation of folk poetry and dance with special rules.

Ahwazis perform the Hausa dance on the morning of Eid al-Fitr (Al-Jazeera)

Incense and Arabic coffee

“Happy Eid and happy days” “May God bring you back with goodness and health” and “May God accept your fasting and prayers” are expressions that do not leave the lips of Ahwazis upon their arrival at the doors of their relatives’ homes, which become open to the feasters and smells of incense and Arabic coffee.

Ahvas Municipality is keen every year to hold major poetic and musical festivals and celebrations in the presence of a number of prominent figures in the fields of art and literature on the evening of Eid.

Cemeteries in these areas have another story about the blessed Eid al-Fitr that makes you feel that the feast is not only for those who are fasting this year, but the living share the joy of the feast with their deceased relatives by placing wreaths on their graves and spreading sweets tables near them.

A festive event on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr in a shopping center in the Iranian capital (Getty)

Eid and Islamic Unity

In the areas inhabited by Sunnis, in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan (southeast), North Khorasan (northeast) and Kurdistan (west), Eid al-Fitr is given greater attention than Nowruz, which is the biggest holiday and the Iranian New Year.

Muslims in these governorates go to mosques and public squares to perform the Eid prayer, in an atmosphere of faith in which the Eid takbeer rises, followed by the exchange of congratulations and the distribution of sweets and pastries to the worshipers.

Preparing sweet dishes and decorating tables on the morning of Eid al-Fitr to spread joy in the hearts of the feasts, especially children (Getty Images)

Since the last ten days of Ramadan, fasting women have been preparing sweets dishes and decorating tables for Eid al-Fitr to spread joy in the hearts of those who celebrate, especially children, and to suit their families, loved ones and guests.

The Eid al-Fitr celebrations embody one of the manifestations of Islamic unity in Iran.

As the occasion, along with Eid al-Adha, reflects an aspect of solidarity and solidarity between Shiites and Sunnis, and the keenness of the sons of each to congratulate the other on the occasion of Eid, wishing him health, wellness, happiness and fulfillment of wishes.