Eid in Different Countries with Restaurant Food, Annoying Relatives, or Political Speeches

DOHA, SUNDAY – Indonesia will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Monday (31/3/2025). However, in the Middle East, several countries celebrated the Day of Victory on Sunday (30/3/2025). These countries include Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

"Happy Eid al-Fitr to everyone. May Allah grant us abundant sustenance, health, and happiness," tweeted Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on X.

Quoting the media The Peninsula, Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also issued an official greeting for Eid. Not only for the people of Qatar, but also for all citizens of the world who celebrate Eid.

In that country, the government announced a nine-day holiday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Various events were also prepared. From the day of the celebration until four days afterward, there are fireworks festivals at several locations, including Souq Al Wakra and Katara.

In addition to the fireworks festival, there will also be several concerts. On April 3, 2025, the music group Gypsy Kings will perform. The following day, Egyptian pop and R&B singer Tul8te will perform in Doha. There is also the Lusail Sky Festival, an aerial acrobatics show that is planned to involve 3,000 drones.

Meanwhile, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the serene atmosphere of Eid al-Fitr unfolded as usual. Muslims crowded the Masjid al-Haram to perform the Eid prayer. They then listened to the holiday sermon.

Saudi Gazette daily reported that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman was busy exchanging congratulations with a number of Middle Eastern heads of state. They were the President of the United Arab Emirates Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, King of Jordan Abdullah II, and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. They contacted each other by phone.

In Saudi Arabia, preparations for Eid are also busy. Families usually prepare various traditional dishes, including chicken kabsah and lamb mandi. However, according to a report by the Saudi Times, more and more families are choosing to celebrate Eid at restaurants to avoid the hassle.

"On the contrary, during the Idul Fitri holiday, restaurants were flooded with customers. Tables were fully booked for dining events," the article stated. Catering orders also surged during the holiday.

If food is ordered from catering, the family provides beverages, ranging from fruit juices to carbonated drinks. Eid is also the time when the best dining and drinking utensils, such as porcelain plates and crystal glasses, are brought out for serving.

In Saudi Arabia, there is also a tradition of giving money known as Eidiya. Money is given to children who visit the house. “Children usually compare their Eidiya earnings and determine who is the most generous uncle or aunt,” said the Saudi Times.

Public places are also transformed into entertainment centers. There are night markets offering snacks and toys for children. Residents usually go out in the evening when the sunlight is no longer intense.

In Dubai, UAE, Eid al-Fitr was greeted with thick fog. The UAE National Meteorological Center issued yellow and red alerts. Similar to the tradition in Indonesia, UAE residents also visited relatives' homes to visit relatives.

"The fog will become thicker. Please be careful when driving," the warning said.

Several media outlets have published tips for celebrating Eid al-Fitr with family and relatives. Gulf News, for example, published an article on five tips for dealing with annoying relatives while still enjoying the Eid atmosphere.

“Remember, you can’t control other people’s behavior. You can only control yourself. If a relative is annoying you, take a deep breath, calm yourself down, and smile,” one tip reads.

Another tip is that if a know-it-all relative offers advice on life, work and love, it's best to greet them with a nod of the head and the words, "Oh, I see, that's an interesting view." Don't forget to map relatives who are friends to support "fighting" annoying relatives.

In the Gaza Strip, Palestine, Eid al-Fitr comes under pressure and limitations. Social assistance has not been received for the past month. As a result, food is a rare commodity. Rania Hegazy, a mother of three children aged 3-6 years old, experienced it.

"This Eid we were lucky to find rice. Last year it was terrible, there was mass starvation," he told Canadian media, CBC.

Hegazy and his family are still living in a tent in Gaza City because their house was destroyed by Israeli attacks. They are preparing to leave and evacuate to Beit Lahiya on the orders of the Israeli military. The family survives by eating canned food that they have saved.

“There is no clean water or sanitation facilities. My children ask when they can get new clothes for Eid, I can only say ‘I don’t know’,” Hegazy said.

Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayyah announced that his side had agreed to a ceasefire plan drawn up by Egypt and Qatar. They would release the five surviving hostages in exchange for Israel allowing in social aid.

However, the ceasefire plan has not yet been approved by Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly still negotiating with the United States to prepare a ceasefire proposal from their side.

Meanwhile, civilians are fed up. Protests are taking place in both Tel Aviv and Gaza. In Tel Aviv, Israelis, especially the families of the hostages, are protesting Netanyahu. They accuse him of being arbitrary and wanting to prolong the conflict in order to delay the trial date for corruption charges.

In Gaza, residents are calling on Hamas to end the miserable situation by returning the hostages.

In Ankara, Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a politically charged Eid al-Fitr speech. He said Turkey is committed to realizing a country without terrorism. Therefore, the country does not have enough patience to deal with terrorist groups, including the Turkish Workers' Party (PKK) and its affiliated organizations.

"Immediately lay down your weapons and disperse. Do not delay," Erdogan was quoted as saying by the Anadolu news agency.

As of Saturday (3/29/2025), the streets of Istanbul and Ankara were still packed with pro-democracy protesters. The demonstrations began when Erdogan jailed his political opponent, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, 2025.

So far, there has been no news of protests continuing during Eid. However, protest leaders have previously said they will not stop demonstrating until justice is served.

While Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Sunday, other countries are still waiting. In Southeast Asia, Australia, and South Asia, Eid al-Fitr falls on Monday (31/3/2025). In fact, there are several Middle Eastern countries that do the same. Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Oman, along with Indonesia, celebrate on Monday.

Australia's Grand Mufti Ibrahim Abu Mohamad has called on the country's Muslims to forgive and pray for each other. They are asked to pray for the world's conflicts to end soon and for society to put humanity first.

"Let us not forget to invite our neighbors, fellow Australians, to celebrate Eid al-Fitr together as mandated by the peaceful teachings of Islam," he said. (AP)