Revelry and joy as city celebrates Id

It’s time for Id again, and the Muslim populace in Mumbai are busy with the festivities. We find out what the festival means to some of the more prominent members of society in Mumbai and how they will celebrate it. We also ask them about their fondest memories of Id.

Shama Sikander and James Milliron, actor and model
We celebrate Id with our family and closest friends. We organise a small gathering at home where all my family and friends are invited, and we eat scrumptious biryani, kebabs and sheer kurma. Id is the most awaited festival in the family as we look forward to the meals cooked by my mother and bhabhi. This time we are having a potluck and all my friends are getting delicious delicacies of their choice.

Sara Arfeen Khan, actor

Whether I am working or not, keeping rozas every year is a must for me. Unless I am ill or travelling, I make sure to fast. Although many people find it tough to fast during shoots, it has never been tough for me. The only difference is that I don’t talk too much on the set so that I can conserve my energy. During Iftaari, I love eating fruits and drinking lemonade. I fast every year and I keep all the rozas. Id is a festival, which I love after a month of Ramadaan. It means reminding my family and friends what they mean to me and also feasting together. I will be celebrating with my husband Arfeen. He is very particular about us spending the day with family. Of course, Id means putting my diet on a break. I eat a lot of delicacies like sheer kurma and sevaiyan. A lot of friends visit us. The holy month makes me feel very positive. The fondest memory is when I threw an Id party at home and all my friends had come and the food was appreciated. The joy during Id is extra ordinary and I like to see everyone around happy.

Mohammad Nazim, actor

Every year I celebrate Id with my family and friends in Punjab. All my special memories of celebrating Id are from there. When I am in my hometown, I meet everyone in the family and we have a get-together. My favourite food would have to be sheer kurma and mutton biryani. Also in Punjab, you get this special chole-bhature at this time of the year, which is very tasty. Needless to say, my diet goes for a toss. After fasting for a month, I had arranged an Id party on the sets of my show. I sponsored Iftaari for a month on my set. I feel very positive during Id. Life is beautiful that is what this festival means. Id also means counting my blessings.

Shabina Khan, Choreographer
I remember as a kid, I was crazy about wearing good traditional clothes. As it is chand raat on Sunday, we put mehandi, and all the preparations are done by day to celebrate. On this day all men go to the mosque for namaz and women do the same at home. My best memory about Id is about eidy, which I used to get from my family. This year Id is more special because of the release of Tubelight.

Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan
As a kid, I remember how festivals were all about innocence and integrity and the whole area would be enjoying irrespective of whose festival it was, and it was like a fair. I went to Jama Masjid along with my father and brothers for Id namaz, and after the namaz, we would get eidy not only from our parents and relatives but also from the parents of our friends. The way people celebrated Id in the earlier days is a lot different from how we celebrate the occasion today. Earlier Id used to be more of a community affair. Now, the whole neighbourhood gets together to celebrate the festival.

Sana Khan, actor
I celebrate Id with family and friends. Every year I call my close friends and family home. On Monday, I’ll be going to Haji Ali for blessings and will be distributing food to the needy. I have bought gifts for the entire family and will be gifting my mother some traditional stuff and herbal goodies. Our extended families will also visit our home on Monday, and around 100 of us will celebrate Id. This is a very important festival for us and is a chance to forgive and forget and start afresh.