Eid'l Fitr

(this is an overdue post) 

Islam celebrates only two festivities: Eid'l Fitr and Eid'l Adha. Eid'l Fitr is celebrated at the end of the Holy Month of Ramadhan while Eid'l Adha, the feast of sacrifice, is celebrated during the month of Dhul Hajj. Basically, the festivities consist of prayers (salaa'tul eid) and greeting family and friends with peace. Most often than not, families spend the important occasion with each other by rising early for the congregational prayer and afterwards sharing their best culinary specialties. Eid'l Fitr celebrates not just the mere act of "being able to eat again" after one whole month of fasting, the same way that Ramadhan is not just about skipping meals/water during daytime. Eid'l Fitr entails that the discipline and the strength of faith that we have developed all throughout Ramadhan must not put to cease but must be continued all year round. The Eid is meant to bring tranquility to the Muslim Ummah as we give our salaam  to everyone. Ironically though, looking at the news, tranquility and peace is a strange word in the Arab world nowadays. 

It is my first time this year not being able to spend the holiday at home, but being with my cousins here in Manila, I don't feel any less at home. We were up very early on the morning of August 30 to catch up the salaatul eid at Quirino Grandstand. Thousands of Muslims all over the metro were there to pray together. It was wonderful, wonderful sight. How can I not believe in the miracles of Allah when the previous night it was raining cats and dogs due to the typhoon and then suddenly the sky cleared and became sunny on the Eid morning? Allah (s.w.t.) indeed gives abundance of Mercy. 

My family in the metro. (l-r) Kuya Dabs, Ate Papay, moi, Ate Hanna, Princess, Uncle Mumar and the two adorable kiddos Sabreen and Asma. Hosni took this photo. 

It was just us here so the table was set to seven people only, unlike in inged  where we don't use the dining table. We use tens of tabaks for a buffet style meal because everyone comes around. :)

It is but tradition that Muslim women boast their culinary expertise on this holiday. My cousin Ate Hannah is an excellent cook so she did all the cooking while Princess and I played her apprentice slicing peppers and handing her the spices bottles etc. She does it perfectly without exerting too much effort and voila! here are her mouth-watering specialties for the day.

Cassava ala Hannah. You guys must have a taste of her cassava cake, it's simply the best!! It's full of texture and every ingredient slips smoothly into your tastebuds you can't get enough of it! For orders, do text me. Hehe. 

Chickne Khabsa Rice. This is an Arabian food which is my ultimate favorite! The rice is cooked using various Arabian spices which gives a strong aftertaste but something that makes you crave for more. The chicken was cooked separately using the same spices and placed on top of the rice.

Pindiyalokan a Manok. This one's a native Meranao food, chicken cooked in shredded coconut meat and our famous palapa (this one doesn't have an English translation) and kalawag (yellow-ginger powder). 

Koning Rice. Who among the Meranaos don't love kiyuning a begas? This is cooked using coconut milk instead of plain water, peppered with yellow-ginger, laurel leaves and pandan leaves. Koning is served during the best  of occasions and when you visit a Meranao household, you know you're special when this is served.

Pasta. Need I say more? Well, I guess everybody just loves pasta! Haha. Oh, we also have grilled chicken that day which I fail to take its photo! That one's better than Mang Inasal or anywhere!

Post-Eid meal. As I always say, nothing beats being with the family on special occasions.

Alhamdulillah (all praises belong to Allah) for a wonderful family I have, back home and here; for being able to survive Ramadhan alongside OB-GYN; for providing all of us good health; for the gift of friends; for being able to live everyday with peace and tranquility in our hearts.