Celebrating Eid from home, with the help of technology

Apart from waking up to "Romjaner oi rojar sheshe" in the morning, Eid, this year would be completely unconventional and out of our comfort zones. That does not necessarily mean we can't enjoy it! Technology has come a long way and we are fortunate enough to be living in an era where we won't be missing out on our favourite holiday while quarantining safely in our homes.

Chaand Raat

In 2020, we may not entertain all the activities we expected but we can still make it a virtual chaand raat with the help of technology. Stellarium is just the app you need to watch the night sky. It is an astronomy star map app that helps you watch over all known planets and their natural satellites from your location. So, not only will you be enjoying the moon in its finest glory on chaand raat but you will also be ahead of our National Moon observing committee. Why feel blue at home with bare hands when you can have the perfect henna design with a little tinkering with the help of Photoshop? Just pick out your favourite designs, ones your cousins were too unskilled for, and simply photoshop them onto any of your old photos. And voila! You have yourself the perfect chaand raat, minus the mess.

Eid Shopping

Nothing says "Eid is coming" like the bustling Chandni Chawk streets. Whilst this may not seem like a viable option in 2020, but that doesn't stop us Bengalis from shopping to our heart's content from home. While there are the usual online shopping websites such as Daraz, Shadmart and more, something that has caught the eye is the concept of Virtual Try-on. This feature helps you see how you will look in those new outfits or accessories. All you have to do is take a photo of yourself, and the software will adjust the product on your photo for a virtual dressing room experience. While some of the local brands are still new to this element, global retailers, such as Sephora, Coach and Zara are already offering this feature. 

Food

What's Eid without the traditional delicacies and all your family gathered in your home to enjoy it. Though the latter is far fetched due to social distancing, you can always celebrate Eid dinners through video calls. You have several services to choose from, like Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype and Houseparty. Note that not everyone has used a video chat service, so it's best to send out invites to your friends and family in advance with instructions. Even though you cannot meet your loved ones, that does not mean you cannot share your favourite dish with them. Uber Eats, Pathao, and many other delivery services are providing "Contactless Delivery", delivering packages straight to your door while promoting healthy social distancing.

Salami and Greetings

Wondering how to earn your salami this year? Maybe now would be the perfect time to introduce your relatives to mobile financial services in their phones such as Bkash and Nagad. No more excuses about leaving their purse at home. For the enthusiastic crowd, Virtual E-cards are your saviours. Get ready to send hundreds of Whatsapp greetings and e-cards to your relatives, along with your Bkash account number, of course. 

Enjoying the empty city

Dhaka city streets will most certainly be empty this time of the year, regardless of the cause. That is one aspect of Eid, which was once something to look forward to, but now has become our daily routine. 

Here's to an Eid where you can finally sleep in without having to make up excuses for skipping the dawaats.