Don’t Forget These Eid ul-Fitr Essentials: A Pakistani’s Ultimate Guide!

Here well discover the Eid ul Fitr checklist, so let’s start. The festival of Eid is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion throughout Pakistan. All young and old, women and men, enthusiastically participate in its special preparation. From the last ten days of Ramadan until the moonrise (Chand Raat) of Eid, people are for busy shopping for clothes, shoes and other items. Especially on Chand Rat, there is such a rush of men, women, and children for shopping in the markets that it becomes very difficult to even set foot on the ground.

Shopping

Men prefer to wear traditional shalwar kameez clothes and khusa or Peshawari slippers on Eid day. While there is a long list of women’s fashion, some of which are shalwar kameez, lehenga, sharara, saree, etc. Similarly, parents buy clothes and shoes for their children with mutual understanding.

Mehndi or Henna

When it comes to women’s shopping, we can’t ignore henna. In Pakistan, women like to get dressed and beautified on the moonlit night of Eid, which is why a large number of women visit beauty parlors. That’s why beauty salons stay open all night on the moonlit night and their bookings are made months in advance, and it’s not possible for the people working there to serve everyone. That’s why the rates of beauty parlors are very high. But it should be remembered that in addition to beauty parlors, other people also provide henna application services, some in markets, and most women are busy applying henna at home.

Eid shopping should be done very carefully because if even one thing is left out in the rush of Eid shopping, then Eid feels incomplete due to its absence on the day of Eid. And this often happens to many people.

Meals

As many of us know, Eid is celebrated for three days in Pakistan. So as, people prepare delicious meals and invite each other during Eid days. When it comes to food, the list is also very long, with a lot of variety from main courses to desserts.

In Pakistan, children collect money called Eidi as gifts from their beloved elder relatives on the occasion of Eid. This is a centuries-old expression of joy in our tradition. Not only that, people also exchange Eid related gifts hampers. For this reason, all the markets in Pakistan are filled with various types of gift packages that are specially prepared for the occasion of Eid. Such as flower bouquets, Eid cards, boxes of sweets, etc.

So whether you live in one of Pakistan’s big cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad or a small town in any province of Pakistan and want to prepare for Eid, the following checklist will be of immense help to you.

1. The Perfect Eid Outfit (And Backup!)

In fact, many of us do our Eid shopping in the last few days. Whether you like to wear designer clothes or are fond of wearing classic traditional shalwar kameez, your clothing should be ready on time and fit your body perfectly.

✅ Things to remember:

Whether it’s a heavily embroidered jora or a sleek kurta, make sure to ready well before Chaand Raat. It may happen that you cannot find a ready-made cloth of your choice and size, or that the tailor refuses to stich your clothes due to the Eid rush and lack of time!

• Traditional matching shoes like Khussas, kolapuri, heels, Peshawari chapal, joggers or moccasins enhance the Eid outlook.
• When it comes to women’s accessories, they include bangles, jhumkas (earrings), and bangles, while for men, wristwatches, cufflinks, tie clips, and gemstones rings are popular choices.
• One or two extra dresses should have as a backup to avoid any mishaps. Such as changing your mind about wearing the outfit, the sudden arrival of a guest, or the clothes getting stained or damaged for some reason.

2. Mehndi Madness: The Chaand Raat Ritual

Chand Raat means moonlit night in English, but here in Pakistan, women love to apply henna on their hands and feet on Chand Raat. That is why, apart from beauty parlors, mehndi stalls are found in almost every street in the days leading up to Eid. Just know that a female’s Eid look cannot be complete without the exqusite mehndi designs.

✅ Things to remember:

• To get your henna applied, make a reservation in advance at the beauty parlor of your choice, otherwise the Eid rush increase due to late arrival and you have to settle for a simple design to complete the task soon.
• Henna must be of good quality and of a reliable brand because some henna contains chemicals that can cause serious skin allergies!
• Just as applying henna on your hands and feet is an art, such as drying it is also little bit tricky. You have to completely minimize the movement of your hands and feet until the henna completely dries. Henna releases its vibrant and best color only after it dries properly.

3. Eid ul Fitr Namaz Essentials

Eid is celebrated in the joy of fasting during the month of Ramadan, and a special Eid prayer is held on that day, which is called Eid Namaz. Whether you are offering prayers in a mosque or on Eidgah (Eid prayer ground), there are a few things you should keep in mind:

✅ Things to remember:

• If you are heading to a mosque or Eidgah to pray (namaz), you should have a clean prayer mat (janamaz). Because there is a rush to offer Eid prayers (namaz) in most mosques and Eidgahs, most people have to pray in an open space outside the prayer hall (Masajid) or Eidgah.
• Many people want to wear something new on Eid, so men should also arrange a prayer cap while doing Eid shopping, and women should get a special scarf or dupatta, etc. for prayer.
• Applying perfume or ittar is also a Sunnah and its use also brings good vibes!
• It is better to pay Zakat al-Fitr (Fitrana) before the Eid prayer, so try to pay Zakat al-Fitr before Eid prayer (namaz).

4. Eidi and Gifting Done Right!

As we mentioned above, young children expect from their elders to collect Eidi (money). But this tradition is not limited to children, as gifts are also exchanged among adults.

✅ Things to remember:

• Get fresh currency notes from the bank in advance or contact a trusted shopkeeper. Because as we all know, new currency notes are given as a gift on Eid (Eidi), so they often become scarce during Eid.
• It looks better if these currency notes are put in envelopes and if you use fancy envelopes, it is a perfect finishing touch!
• You should have extra cash as a backup, who knows, someone suddenly reaches out to share their Eid joys with you.
• Small gifts like perfume, bangles, chocolates or traditional sweets are good ideas for close relatives.

5. The Eid ul Fitr Feast: Dawat Ready or Not?

The Eid table decorated with various foods is exact according to Pakistani tradition. Whether you are the host or the guest, you should have some essential food items as a backup.

✅ Things to remember:

• The ingredients of Sher Khorma should be in every Pakistani household. No exceptions!
• A stock of spices and chilies should be in your stock, otherwise you have to run to the market for something if it is not available at the right time.
• Arrange extra dishes and seats in advance for more guests than you expect.
• You should have extra sweets or sweet dishes ready as a backup because what happens if something burns or spoils? So prepare it in advance.

6. Post-Eid ul Fitr Plans: Where to Go & What to Do?

Eid is not only about staying at home or visiting someone’s house as a guest, but also about going to hill station, park or somewhere else. So it’s better to plan it in advance.

✅ Things to remember:

• Tickets for restaurants, parks, or cinemas sell out quickly, so it’s wise to reserve them in advance!
• The most important thing is to keep your vehicle fueled so that you don’t face any problems at the last moment.
• Get your vehicle checked by a good mechanic or your trusted mechanic and get it ready for a travel in advance.
• Roads are often jammed with traffic, so make alternative routes part of your plan in advance!
• If you are going to visit someone’s house or going to their party, then you should have a gift pack for them.

7. Capturing the Eid ul Fitr Memories

Eid is a special festival of joy, so you should make arrangements in advance to capture its beautiful and colorful moments. You can capture the memorable joys of your Eid on a camera or digital mobile. So it’s important for them to be ready and travel with you.

✅ Things to remember:

• Charge your devices the night before, such as cameras, cell phones, and power banks.
• In today’s busy world, Eid is the day when all the cousins ​​and family get together, so taking a group photo together is a great idea.
• Capture all the memories of Eid meals, chatting with loved ones, or children play with the help of a camera.

8. Post-Eid ul Fitr Relaxation & Recovery

After three days of nonstop celebration of Eid ul Fitr, you also need some rest. So make sure to take proper rest as well.

✅ Things to remember:

• Now is the time to wear comfortable dresses and get rid of fancy dresses. So choose clothes that are normal to wear at home.
• Pack up leftover Eid food and preserve it in the fridge or freezer so you can eat it again when you get hungry at night.
• Enjoy by watching Eid related Pakistani dramas (which have a high unique status worldwide), listen Pakistani music or movies.
• Keeping makeup on your skin for too long can harm it, so pay attention to your skin care!

Final Thoughts: Make This Eid ul Fitr Memorable!

Eid ul Fitr is more than just a festival in Pakistan; it is also a source of joy, traditions, and a means of bringing family members together. We have attentively prepared this Eid checklist, and by following it, you can celebrate your Eid to the fullest. Whether it’s an Eid dress, Eid meal, or capturing your memorable Eid moments, it’s essential to prepare for all of them in advance. Have a nice Eid!