Eid Day Magic

Eid is almost here and there is a lot to be thankful for. First of all, the streets are going to be empty and for anyone living through countless hours of Dhaka traffic, that is one of the best things about Eid. Think about it; you can go Need for Speed on that rickshaw near you. Of course, there is a slight possibility that you'll get mugged but hey, life is for the adventures, right? 

There is no doubt that Eid brings with it lots of good things. Visiting every branch and leaf of your entire family tree and greeting every person on sight are some of the more obvious things attached to every Eid day. You will have splendid conversations with people who do not know who you are, or cannot remember anymore but still wish to listen to you speak and repeatedly ask you to repeat what you had just said. Other things that will definitely happen to you this Eid include getting stuffed and force fed till you feel like you are about to implode on to yourself like a neutron star. You will come across people who are trying really hard to pull off a fashionable outfit but failing miserably. Guess what, hoody panjabis are NOT in when its so hot outside. 

But wait, there's more. The lack of starvation is sure to bring some of your friends back to life. Those English speaking friends of yours who never usually speak in Bengali will dive into a one-day-pool of Bengali words. You will watch Bengali pranks and television shows following that genre, "we are not a comedy or drama but its Eid so I'm happy." The bucket load of panjabis that you'll get will be in many sizes and in questionable designs. They will definitely be non- refundable but hopefully, flammable. And let's not forget, the amount of car rallies that you'll come across on Eid day. They are bound to leave you a little scarred. 

So why are we so crazy about Eid if it is full of fails? Some would say it's the food and I can definitely see that as being one of the best parts of my Eid day. My parents both cook traditional Bengali dishes together every Eid morning which makes waking up at 6 am worth it when you have 'murgir roast with roti' waiting for you.  For others, it's an opportunity to spend some quality time with friends. I guess I get that a little too. Most of my every day friends now either work with me or study law with me. I don't get to see my old school friends ever except maybe on Eid day. It gives people an opportunity to walk down memory lane and think about the good old days. 

For me, Eid is always a let down until we all gather at my 'boro mamas.' Sitting down just us fathers, uncles, cousins, aunts all together, talking, otherwise fosters a form of collective harmony that we hardly see; it is worth it. Seeing everyone as happy as you are, for no particular reason, makes you realise that this holiday is a lot more than just about you. That it's all part of a much bigger picture. As you put down your cup of coffee - in slow motion - having poured your heart out, you hear roars in the distance. 'I swear to god, if one more dude with a car rallies past our road, I'm gonna end him.'

By Naveed Naushad

Photo: LS Archive/Sazzad Ibne Sayed