'Eid-al-Fitr' is one of the most important festivals in Islam which is celebrated by Muslims all over the world with great joy and festivities.

  'Eid' means 'a recurring happiness or festivity' and 'fitr' means 'to begin'. 'Iftar' means'the breaking of the fast and it is from this that the name 'Eid-al-Fitr seems to have been taken which means 'festival of the breaking of the fast'.

  When our Holy Prophet Muhammad arrived in Medina, he found that the people of the city celebrated many festivals. He abolished these pagan observances and told the Muslims that the two Eids were prescribed for them as festivals, one being 'Eid-al-Fitr' and the other 'Eid-al-Adha'.

  'Eid-al-Fitr' falls on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Muslim calendar,and marks the end of fasting observed by the Muslims during the month of Ramadhan. It is a well known fact that while the Holy Qur'an was revealed piecemeal during a period of twenty-three years, the first revelation came to our Prophet in the month of Ramadhan, and it is therefore that the month which witnessed the greatest spiritual experience of the Holy Prophet was considered to be the most suitable month for the spiritual discipline of the Muslim community. The Holy Qur'an says : "The month of Ramadhan is that in which the Qur'an was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of guidance and the Criterion (of right and wrong). So whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein." (Sura Bakr-Ayat 185) Fasting was prescribed as an act of self-denial with a view to attaining moral and spiritual upliftment. The Qur'an and the Prophet have laid special stress on this. A Momin fasts 360 days in a year