عيد الفطر(Eid al-Fitr) in 🇵🇰 Pakistan

Eid al-Fitr in Pakistan, known as Chand Raat and Eid, is one of the most exuberant celebrations in the country. The festivities begin the night before Eid, on Chand Raat, the Night of the Moon, when the sighting of the new crescent moon is confirmed. Streets and bazaars come alive with last-minute shopping as families buy clothes, bangles, and sweets. Women and girls crowd mehndi stalls to have intricate henna patterns applied to their hands.

On Eid morning, men and boys attend Eid prayer at mosques and open eidgahs, wearing new shalwar kameez and caps. Families then gather for a breakfast feast of sheer khurma, a rich vermicelli pudding cooked in milk with dates, nuts, and cardamom, which is the quintessential Eid dish across Pakistan. Sawaiyan, a similar vermicelli preparation, is served in every home.

Children receive Eidi, cash gifts, from every adult relative and family friend, and they eagerly calculate their total haul by the end of the day. Families exchange trays of sweets, including gulab jamun, barfi, jalebi, and dried fruit platters. Visiting relatives is an all-day affair, starting with close family and extending to neighbors and friends.

Parks, restaurants, and recreational areas are packed with families celebrating. In Lahore, the Walled City and Minar-e-Pakistan see enormous crowds. In Karachi, Sea View beach and the Clifton boardwalk are thronged with families enjoying rides, food stalls, and fireworks.

Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan's month-long fasting, celebrated with communal Eid prayers, feasting, new clothes, gift-giving, and charity (zakat al-fitr) across the Muslim world.