How I celebrated Eid in the UK

Celebrating away from home

Eid-ul-Fitr is one of two Eids in the year, and this one is the festival which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which is a time of reflection and reinstating good habits in our lives. This year, however, as an international student in the UK, the festive spirit was tinged with a pang of homesickness. The lights and sights of my home, Bangladesh, were replaced by the quiet calmness of my new home in Leeds. However, in the true spirit of Eid, I did not deter and made new memories.

The community and beyond

Eid is an event I grew up celebrating over a three-day public holiday (twice a year for two Eids!). It brings back memories of big gatherings with loved ones, friends and family from all backgrounds coming together to celebrate with overflowing tables of rich traditional delicacies for days on end. One of the things I missed the most is the empty roads of my bustling home city, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. With most residents away to celebrate in their own hometowns across the country, Dhaka, which is also a city that never sleep, gains a calmness like no other. I missed driving around or strolling on a rickshaw around my empty city (aka “Faaka Dhaka”).

Celebrating Eid away from home can be quite bitter with the absence of loved ones and shared traditions in an unfamiliar environment where one can just not truly relate, bringing up a sense of longing for days gone by. However, Eid is more than a community festival. It is a celebration signifying faith in humanity and marking new beginnings. It is most importantly a reminder of our blessings from the universe and sharing them with each other as kindred spirits. Keeping that spirit in mind, I celebrated my roots in a new way on my new journey here.

My celebrations

Eid follows a lunar calendar and comes up earlier every year and this year, it fell during the Easter holidays which was amazing already to have a festive spirit in the air. Eid ul Fitr celebrations begin with the sighting of the new moon marking the new month after Ramadan, which just like February could either have 29 or 30 days! In my Bengali culture, we start celebrating from the day before with what we call “Chaad Raat Mehedi” which translates to “Henna by the Moonlight”. That is exactly what I did this year – shopped for my special groceries, started the pots and oven, and had a henna party with friends.

The next day, on “actual” Eid, I traded in heels for sneakers to style my traditional custom made, intricately designed, “Shalwar-Kameez” (top and pants) which I had brought over from home. My culinary adventure included the famous Dhakai Kacchi Biriyani – a landmark celebratory dish from Dhaka (popular during weddings) made famous when it was the Mughal empire’s capital. Besides Kacchi, I made “Shemai” a traditional sweet breakfast dish made with crunchy toasted vermicelli. I also had Bengali roast chicken and potatoes, kebabs, salads and a plum chutney. Thanks to the rich diversity of Leeds, I was easily able to get all the ingredients at multiple supermarkets, and my home was filled with familiar aromas from home, here in my new home with international friends whom I could show this to.

Talking to family

Despite the physical distance and time zones, technology broke all barriers. I FaceTimed my loved ones back home who were celebrating the day after me (timezone!) and even connected with those spread across the globe and on the same boat as me. Showing them my prep and asking for advice on the recipes, walking around the park on camera all dressed up was the way I shared the experience from so far away – creating a new kind of connection, a sense of belonging in a shared experience.

Even better than I imgained

My student Eid away from home turned out better than I envisioned. It was a lesson in having strength and spirit, reminding me of the essence of Eid which transcends geography and cultures. This year, I defeated homesick blues by connecting with my roots and creating new memories and enjoying old ones. I celebrated the spirit of Eid embracing my new relationships sharing my unique Bengali Eid culture with my new friends from diverse backgrounds in a new city we all now call home. While it was bittersweet, this day marks a new cherished memory. I am already looking forward to Eid ul Adha to host another grand celebration of strength found in community.