Eid Mubarak: Celebrating the End of Ramadan

During Ramadan in the market

Wednesday was the end of Ramadan and a time of celebration in Mauritius and throughout the world of Islam.  Here, it was a national holiday, Eid al-Fitr. "Eid Mubarak" (Arabic: عيد مبارك‎, Persian/Urdu: عید مُبارک, Malayalam: ഈദ്‌ മുബാറക്‌, Bengali: ঈদ মোবারক) is a traditional Muslim greeting reserved for use on the festivals of Eid ul-Adha and Eid al-Fitr. The phrase translates into English as "blessed festival", and can be paraphrased as "may you enjoy a blessed festival" (Eid refers to the occasion itself, and Mubarak means "Blessed")(from Wikipedia).  For all of our new Muslim friends, co-workers, and colleagues it was the first day in 30 to eat or drink during the daylight hours.  In an attempt to be sensitive to those who were fasting, Shelly and I tried to keep our "PDE" (public displays of eating) to a minimum.  During Ramadan, I found that most every Muslim I spoke with knew what time official sundown was---"Sundown is 6:03 pm tonight, sir"---and, following prayers, food was already prepared and ready to eat.  Mauritius is a very diverse and tolerant nation when it comes to religion.  Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and animists live side by side, practicing their religions and festivals in harmony one with the other.  As a matter of national policy, religions are highly respected, with several national holidays coinciding with a variety of high holy days.  Eid al-Fitr was Wednesday, and Ganesh Chaturthi, a Hindu holiday, was celebrated on Friday!  This was a light work week; add those to the USA's Labor Day on Monday, and we're off more than we're on!   Eid Mubarak!