ON Sunday I celebrated Eid in Fiji (South Pacific), where unlike Guyana it is not a public holiday. Only the prophet’s birthday is a holiday for Muslims. Hindus have Diwali and Christians have several holidays just as in Guyana. In Fiji, all Muslims consider all auspicious celebrations such as Eid Ul Adha and Eid Ul Fitr as holidays taking the days off from work. The country is beautifully decorated for Eid and there are Eid Mubarak greetings written in green all over the place. The main towns are well decorated with colourful lights as well to mark the occasion. Eid ul Fitr marks the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan; it is one of the most auspicious occasions in the Muslim calendar during which many Muslims fast to repent for their sins. The Holy Month teaches of the importance of sacrifice and determination to overcome hurdles in life and to seek forgiveness for errors.
I spent my time in Fiji and New Zealand studying migrant communities. For the week I spent in Fiji and another week in New Zealand. I observed Muslims praying at Masjids in the evenings to break the fast just as in Guyana and New York among Guyanese Muslims. Unlike in Guyana and N.Y, however, I did not hear the Azan (or call to prayer) in New Zealand but a low- level call to prayer is announced at the various mosques for the evening prayers in Fiji.
For Eid, loud prayers are heard over the microphone as people gather for prayers. As in Guyana and N.Y., people rushed to the mosque to say their prayers to break their fast. During the period of Ramadan, people repented and sought forgiveness from God. He is infinitely merciful to the creatures who seek a way of return to Him.
According to the Koran, whoever has faltered has the opportunity of restoration through regret and contrition. Many kept fast as Muslims do in Guyana.
People fasted for blessings for the entire month of Ramadan and celebrated their achievement with the marking of Eid. As in Guyana, sawine is served bountifully on the day of celebration and Muslims gathered for lunch and dinner. Food is shared with neighbours and friends. People gathered at the mosques early in the morning to offer Salaat after which they offered alms to the poor and to the Masjid as well as to the mullah and meiji, etc. Sweets were distributed to Muslims at the Masjid and Muslims distributed sawine to their non-Muslims friends.
I also had some at a shop owned by a Muslim in the deep interior of the country. My taxi driver informed me that in the evening, he gathered at the home of his Muslim friend to eat and to drink grog (kava) the traditional drink in Fiji.
On Eid, Muslims were well dressed just like in Guyana and NY. People put on their best, most colourful clothing – traditional kurthas and shalwar kameez. The stores advertised all kinds of special sales of traditional Indian clothing on billboards and in the newspapers and in front of the stores. So people are well attuned to the holiday and everyone seemed to look forward to it.
Overall, people are warm and friendly and they share their humble possessions for Eid as well as in day-to- day living with guests just as I have experienced in rural areas in Guyana.
As my Muslim brothers celebrate Eid, they must also celebrate His Glorious Lordship over all mankind and commit to live a better life.
Eid Mubarak to all from Fiji, whether observant or neglectful, and be assured that only a little goodness is required to avail the Lord’s overwhelming mercy and blessings.