North Caucasus preparing for Eid al-Fitr
When the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, as well as the pious post, one of the two great holidays of Islam begins, called Eid al-Fitr or the Holiday of Fast-breaking. This holiday is known to Russian believers under the name Uraza-Bayram.
Eid al-Fitr summarizes the results of the month when each Moslem has a chance to improve himself by observing a strict fast, aspiring to piety, helping the distressed and acquiring useful knowledge. The holiday is celebrated with hope for a happy future. People always prepare for the holiday in advance in order to feed innumerable guests. The purchasing of products and cooking takes much time.
In Ingushetia this holiday is also called Marhazh. The holiday is prepared for with no less diligence than a magnificent wedding. These are red days for business - confectionery shops work three shifts a day, markets and shops are сrowded with buyers. The head of the republic, Yunus-bek Yevkurov, has ordered that salaries and "holiday money" should be paid in advance, so that people can prepare for the celebrations. The holiday rush reaches its climax the day before the holiday. From the middle of Ramadan to the end of holidays the republic resembles a beehive. People renovate apartments and houses, wash, hang wallpaper, paint gates. The prices of goods soar. Traffic jams are everywhere. The number of traffic accidents rises dramatically.
The three-day celebrations are considered, perhaps, to be the main event of the year. IOn the first day of the holiday, after the solemn divine service, people visit cemeteries and tombs of relatives. Men visit numerous relatives and acquaintances to congratulate them for two days. In response, they are given scarves. By convention, young men can be given special scarves. Potential grooms have a chance to find brides. On the third day of the holiday women play the dominant role. As do the children, during the holiday period they rush from one house to another with parcels filled with sweets and fruits received as presents. All three days of the holiday in every house tables are laid. Alcohol is not served during the holiday. All interested people are invited to join the celebration.
PS: Preparations for Eid al-Fitr are also conducted in the Chechen Republic. According to the VK correspondent in Grozny, Timur Utsaev, the city market is crowded with buyers and thousands of sellers. There is a crush, traffic jams and accidents in the streets. Many of the city 's residents, mostly women, are cleaning yards and apartment blocks, painting and bleaching. Men put the rubbish out several times a day. The only consolation is that the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, has signed a decree ordering that the days of Eid al-Fitr are days off. In the Chechen Republic people won't work until 5 September. Chechen schools will also start the academic year on 5 September.
Paul Tsoroev, Nazran. Exclusively for VK
