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It's a Ramadan evening in the early 2000s. You and your friends have gathered in the nearest open space after Iftar, enthusiastic for the moon sighting of Eid-ul-Fitr. Your mothers and aunts have gathered to see the moon, which is unusual because they aren't usually out during Iftar hours. After searching, your eyes land on the silver crescent hanging low in the sky. The children let out a pleasant shout in chorus. Tomorrow is Eid.
You would come home and switch the TV on, watch "O mor Ramjaner oi Rojar Sheshe," the incomparable classic composed by Nazrul, playing, with bulletins announcing the moon sighting and the next day's festival on Bangladesh Television—BTV. Your parents are going to go shopping, buy shemai and groceries. You enthusiastically tag along as well because no shopping compares to the joy of shopping on Chaand Raat.
The markets are packed and thriving even late into the night. Everybody is wishing everyone Eid Mubarak with the biggest smile on their face. You return home to a gathering of girls and women from the neighbourhood applying Mehedi, which needs to be kept the whole night to achieve maximal colour. You join the party, scrutinizing the paper design catalogue while getting Mehedi painted on your hand. The air is festive. Everyone is happy.
This story is familiar to the 90s kids and those born in the early 2000s when Eid brought a different flavour of homeliness and delight. The Chaand Raat was a vital part of all the Eid festivities, with the still-fresh enthusiasm for tomorrow and all of the last-minute preparations to be completed, as it is to this day.
Reminiscing about the old days, Mahbuba Zeba Sabiha, an undergraduate student from the University of Dhaka, tells us, "Just after the moon sighting, we started composing Eid greetings and wishes to be sent to friends and family and formal wishes to be sent to the colleagues via SMS. We used to buy SMS packs of 250 or 500. It was almost like a competition to compose the most unique Eid wish different from that of others."
Adding to Sabiha, Ayeasha Shiddika reminisced about Eid cards' various colours and designs. "I used to buy Eid Cards shaped like butterflies and give them to my friends on the last day of school before Eid vacation. Handcrafted cards made by ownself had a specialness. It was a common practice during that time, symbolizing sharing and love."
"On the day of Eid, there was a competition to wake up as early as possible, when it was still dark hours before the sun rose, take a shower, and get ready wearing the Eid dress. We stayed up the whole Chaand Raat, wearing Mehedi, laughing and gossiping together. Preparations began days before the Eid. About two or three decades ago, Shemai was prepared at home by hand. Women used to fry Eid special Muri, Murkis, and grind rice in the Dheki for making sweets and snacks from 3-4 days prior to Eid. It was a jolly and festive atmosphere. We visited every neighbouring house after the Eid salat and had Shemai, and Salami. Eid today doesn't compare to those days. I miss it dearly", Rasheda Begum, a teacher from Rangpur, reminisces.
The Eid special "Ittadi" broadcasted on BTV, a one-week special program arrangement starting from Chaand Raat, was popular among the masses. Listening to Nazrul's "O mor romjaner oi rojar sheshe" on Chaand Raat evening on BTV is a shared experience among every Bangladeshi.
As technology has taken over our lives, the flavour of Chaand Raat and Eid has also evolved but has remained the same. Coming together over notable trends and Eid special memes has become an Internet norm. Youngsters delight in giving and taking Salami over mobile financial services with special notes and greetings, sharing them as stories on social networking sites. Group video calls have made it easier to include every loved one in the festivities while exchanging Eid pictures with friends and close people has become a popular norm.
Uploading pictures and reels on social networking sites have become a part of Eid celebration. Social Media Influencers have joined in setting the trend alongside popular media and newspapers, while the internet has become indispensable for both marketing Eid special products and Eid shopping.
The tradition of Chaand Raat, exceptional Eid shopping, exchanging greetings, and applying Mehedi has survived the test of time and emerged as a winner with flying colours.
However, amidst the increasing buzz of Eid celebrations over the years, many seem to miss our childhood's simplicity. "The vibrant Eid pictures we see on social networking sites are, sometimes, a façade. Connectivity has increased, but the connectedness we could feel on festivals like this is lost among us." Imran Hosen, a student from the University of Dhaka, gave his opinion.
As the celebration of Eid continues to evolve and Chaand Raat with it, we continue to embrace the diversity in celebrations that enrich our collective experience and reflect on the spirit of community, compassion, and faith Eid brings every year.