Flavours of joy

After a month-long fast, Bengalureans are celebrating ‘Eid-ul-Fitr’ where feasting is the order of the day. It is time to partake in the traditional festive spread and the bonhomie that is an indispensable part of the festival.

After a visit to the mosque and a round of ‘namaaz’ in the morning on ‘Eid’, the Muslim community in Bengaluru treat themselves to an elaborate breakfast which usually begins with a sweet dish. Youngsters invite their friends from other communities and children eagerly wait to receive the ‘Eidi’ from the elders in the family.

The womenfolk cook through the day, treating not only their families but also their guests, to a sumptuous feast.

The idea, this year, seems to be to mix a variety of dishes in the traditional festive platter, just to add a zing to the celebrations. Shopping for new clothes and jewellery, gifting loved ones and spending time with family are the other highlights of the day.

Youngsters like Aafreen Rahman, a fashion design student, also soak in all the Eid festivities. She prefers to get her outfits especially stitched for the occasion. “I always like to get my new clothes stitched. The outfit has heavy embroidery and I am particular that it must fit well. Also, opening presents, savouring sweet treats and distributing sweets and ‘biryani’ among family and friends is something that I look forward to during Eid,” says Aafreen.

She adds that the menu at her place is elaborate including ‘biryani’, sweet vermicelli, ‘kebab’, ‘kofta’, ‘gulab jamun’, ‘kaju barfi’ and ‘samosa’.

There’s really no excuse that one can give for not being home during Eid, says Zoheb Yusuf, a model, who has missed being around for the festival only once in all these years. “Every Eid, my friends get to relish some homemade ‘biryani’. The evening is dedicated to family and nothing less than 25 members get together. My idea of the festival is to get my friends from other communities to be a part of the happiness and celebration,” explains Zoheb.

He adds that the festival is also about donating rather generously to the poor. “It helps to get into the shoes of the less fortunate and aid them in whatever way
possible. It’s the season of giving.” No matter how busy, Surumy Mammootty, a homemaker, and her husband Dr Rehan Sayeed make it a point to get together with their families during Eid.

“We are headed to Chennai for Eid. This year is special because we have a new member in our family. My brother-in-law Dulquer Salmaan and his wife Amaal have had their first baby Maryam, who is just about a month old. Maryam will certainly be the centre of attraction this year,” says Rehan.

He says that his actor-father-in-law Mammootty, who has been shooting in Bengaluru, will also be joining them on the occasion. “While food is the highlight of the festival, togetherness is also an important component. Both my mother-in-law and Amaal’s mother are good cooks. The traditional spread will also be extended to include a few Continental dishes,” he adds.

Rehan also says that like every year, Dulquer’s schoolmates will be coming home for Eid.

Come Eid and brothers Aqib Faraaz and Ashhar, both students, say that they have a stream of visitors through the day. “While the ‘biryani’, sweet dishes and ‘kebabs’ are a must, a few shorteats like ‘meat samosa’ and ‘chicken shawarma’ are also included in the spread. My mother and sister cook for family and friends with unabated enthusiasm, just to make sure that nobody leaves without partaking in the feast,” says Aqib.