The call of home echoes louder than Eid bells

From advertisements to television programs, the muddy roads and the smells of cows leave no doubt that Eid has arrived. The dream that pulled us away from home to unknown paths now calls us back to the house of dreams. The home of Dreams, Where beloved faces reside, on the well-trodden path, memories gather like dust. And this Eid-ul-Adha has its different charm. Living in Dhaka and abroad for livelihood is nothing new. Residents working in the capital or other countries send money to buy cattle to sacrifice on Eid. The whole Qurbani Eid experience is emotionally heavy. Going home to see family and bonding with older people becomes a memorable experience for the students, especially for Alif Nusratun, a Dhaka University student staying at the Ruqayyah Hall in Dhakalivee.

"Every year during Eid or before any festival, the rush to return home becomes a celebration in itself. 'When will you go home?'-that's the question on everyone's lips," said Ms Nusratun. All the students from faraway towns begin their hurried journeys back home.

The festival of returning home begins the very moment people secure their tickets. With that one slip of paper, an advance bus or train ticket brings a deep sigh of relief, a sense that the journey has truly begun.

Each passing day brings them closer to that long-awaited moment of reunion.

Amidst the chaos and pressure of city life, the simple act of planning the journey and holding a confirmed ticket feels like a victory, a promise that they'll soon be home.

Everyone dreams of returning home safely-to embracing loved ones, to sharing laughter under the same roof again. Yet, this joyous journey often turns into a test of endurance.

What should be a celebration becomes a struggle as chaos unfolds on every route. Without strict discipline and efficient management in ticketing and transportation, joy gives way to frustration.

Ahmed Imtiaz is a banker who faces numerous troubles while travelling home for Eid. He said, "See, we are talking about technological developments on paper, nothing in reality. Even today, we have to face mismanagements quite often."

Roads become battlegrounds of traffic and tragedy, trains overflow with desperate passengers, and overcrowded boats commute on dangerous waters.

The promise of Eid is overshadowed by fear and uncertainty. Every year, millions face this ordeal-navigating a treacherous path home through a web of mismanagement and risk, all for a few priceless moments with family.

What is it like when, even amidst the joy of Eid, many still don't return home? When students who once laughed in the warmth of family-now chase dreams across distant lands -and the homecoming no longer holds their footsteps, nor does the festival echo with their presence.

"Eid in our homeland carries a magical essence. The excitement of choosing the sacrificial cattle, gathering and preparing the meat, the laughter, the chaos, the love-it's more than a ritual; it's a sacred time of family bonding. But here, there's hardly a trace of that spirit. You won't see the sacrifice-it's all done behind factory walls," said Mahzabin Maliha, a Bangladeshi Student studying abroad for higher education.

"As a student, I am not even eligible to participate in that limited process. And when the heart of the celebration is missing, most people either go to work like it's any other day or simply sit at home- trying to feel something that just isn't there," she added.

For those who live abroad, the escape route from their Eid emotions is often their job. So, they don't usually take off but rather go to offices to have distractions.

In this regard, she said, "And there's one more thing- unless someone has real plans for Eid, they often choose not to take the day off. Because staying home means too much time to feel the ache of everything missing, so they go to work instead. The pain is numbed, even if only a little."

Leaving that familiar path, at some point in life, we all must go-chasing the hope of a better life, the dream of fulfilling our aspirations.

A child takes their first wobbly steps while clutching their father's hand. Gripping tightly, they long to explore the world at their side. Eid-ul-Adha is special for the kids as well. Visiting cattle markets with the elderly, buying castles, and then taking care of them becomes an integral part of their memories.

As they grow steadier, the urge to run begins to stir within them. And once they've tasted the thrill of running, their heart yearns for something greater to soar. Yet, that is beyond human reach. Still, they dream of flying-not with wings, but in life, chasing boundless aspirations. When dreams compel one to stray from the familiar path, they leave behind their courtyard to follow those dreams. Some go to distant cities, others to foreign lands. Their loved ones gaze behind, wondering- when will they return home? When will they see their beloved again?

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