Muslims in India observe all the
Islamic festivals celebrated internationally. In addition, they have the
days commemorating shrines in India and death anniversaries of saints,
which are known as Urs.
All the Muslim festivals and observances follow the Islamic calendar
which has fewer days than the solar year. So, each year, the festival
dates keep coming forward. The important Muslim festivals are Ramzan
(Ramadan), Muharram, Id-e-Milad and Bakr-Id.
Of these, by far the most important is the festival of Ramzan, which
extends through the Islamic month of the same name. It almost acquires
the character of a nationwide fair, with particularly the Muslim areas
becoming bright and lively towards the evening and remaining awake
almost through the night.
Islamic Festivals 2008
Muharram is a day of mourning for the Shia Muslims, and is better
called an observance than a festival. It doesn't form part of the
calendar of the Sunni Muslims.
Id-e-Milad is a particularly holy day because Prophet Mohammed was born
and died on this day of the Muslim calendar.
Bakr-Id commemorates Ibrahim's sacrifice of his son at God's command.
Most of the Islamic festivals involve fasting, feasting or sacrifices,
and are occasions for Muslims as a community to get together and
strengthen their bonds of brotherhood.
Apart from these festivals and observances which deal with Prophet
Mohammed and the scriptures, the Urs, which are localised events, are
also important occasions. Often, in the town or region where the Urs is
observed, there is a great deal of festivity. Notable among them is the
Ajmer Urs, which attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and is
accompanied by the biggest Muslim fair in India.
All the Muslim holy days are observed all over India, but customs tend
to vary from region to region, and are influenced heavily by local
customs, lifestyles, geography and climate.
