President Emomali Rahmon has congratulated Tajikistanis on the Eid ul-Fitr and expressed confidence that Tajikistanis will set modest holiday dastarkhans tomorrow.

In his message of congratulations, Rahmon, in particular, called on people to provide assistance to vulnerable people, orphaned children and elderly people.

“I express gratitude to people who have done godly deeds during the holy month of Ramadan and I am sure that the number of such people will continue increasing in the future as well,” Tajik leader says.

The head of state also notes in his message that “people set holiday dastarkhans on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr with pure hearts and good wishes remembering to economize and avoid overspending.” 

The president also wished well-being and success to the Tajik people, according to the Tajik president’s official website.

Eid ul-Fitr is one of the major religious holidays that followers of Islam have been observing for centuries.  By closing the holy month of Ramadan, it carries a deep moral meaning, encapsulates the joy of renewal, commitment to self-improvement, readiness to do good and help the needy.

Eid ul-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.  Eid is an Arabic word meaning “festivity”, while Fitr means “to purify”; and so the holiday symbolizes the purification after completing the fasting month, which is after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal.

Eid ul-Fitr lasts for one day of celebrations and is sometimes also known as the “Smaller Eid": as compared to the Eid al-Adha that lasts three days following the Hajj and is casually referred to as the “Greater Eid.”

On this day, Muslims attend the special Eid prayer (salah).  An obligatory charity is paid to the poor and the needy before performing the ‘Eid prayer by all those adult Muslims who are required to pay Zakat.  Eid prayer is performed in congregation in open areas like fields, squares etc or at mosques.

After the prayers, people visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances. Gifts are frequently given; it is common for children to be given small sums of money by adult relatives or friends.  It is also common for children to salam parents and adult relatives; they usually get sweeties or money from the adult relatives or friends.