To many followers of Islam, Eid-al-Fitr is usually a much-awaited day to celebrate one’s victory after fasting for a month.
Eid is usually associated with a few common things: Time spent with family, routines or tradition carried out year after year - such as hearing the takbeer call resonating the evening before Eid, and the sense of happiness.
However, there are times when Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr without the routine of gathering with family and celebrating traditions together.
To Naufal Rizi, a University of Melbourne student celebrating this significant day outside of his hometown for the first time, what felt lacking was the routine of the malam takbiran, when, in many cities in Indonesia, one can hear the praises to God sounding across neighbourhoods. Thankfully, he had friends who came up with the idea to have a get-together the night before Eid while playing the takbeer call from the speakers.
Dimas, also student at the University of Melbourne, felt lonely without his family who live in Central Java. Thankfully, technologies such as Video Calls allow him to communicate with his family, and he also had friends from his home country opening their doors for Eid.
Aya Alali, a member of Melbourne’s Muslim community, feels sorrow clouding her Eid celebrations this year as she is reminded of the ongoing conflict in Palestine that has cost tens of thousands of lives.
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