Surat celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr with gaiety - Times of India

SURAT: The diamond city, especially the Muslim-dominated walled city areas, came alive to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Thursday. Tens of thousands of Muslim brethren poured on the streets till late Wednesday night for the last minute purchases and many thronged the dairy shops to purchase 'malai' to savour with their families and friends. The area from Chowk Bazaar to Zampa Bazaar was buzzing with activity since late evening till the early morning hours on Friday, with thousands of people thronging the shops to purchase readymade garments, bakery and food items and perfumes. Local dairies were open till early morning hours selling thousands of kilograms of 'malai' to mark the end of the holy month of Ramzan. Youngsters adorning new traditional dresses and religious caps hit the roads to wish their near and dear ones. The scent of varieties of attar was in the air outside the Idgah in Rander. Mahesh Bharwad, a local dairy owner at Chowk Bazaar, said, "Demand for malai or milk cream increases during Eid. I sold more than 150 kilograms of malai in just three hours on Friday. People savour malai with a special type of bread known as naan." All roads in the walled city and its surrounding areas led to Rander Idgah grounds, where devotees offered morning prayers and greeted each other with 'Eid Mubarak'. Wahab Belim, a member of Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZURCC), said, "Usually, we do not sleep on the Eid as we have to do a lot of things in the morning including offering of special prayers at Idgah and mosques. I have a very busy schedule throughout the day as my house would be swarmed by my friends and relatives." Women remained busy preparing several dishes in anticipation of the arrival of friends and families. Sheerkhurma is the favourite sweet dish offered to the guests. Abdul Hai Mulla, deputy engineer, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), said, "It is a practice to offer Eidi or gift to the children and youngsters. With changing times, the amount of Eidi given is also no longer small. I have bought smartphones for my nephews and nieces" via Top Stories - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHaNlK4y8Ymq9pMMDJ7GodzO-Pi2Q&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Surat-celebrates-Eid-ul-Fitr-with-gaiety/articleshow/21733835.cms

Put the internet to work for you. via Personal Recipe 2953939