Key points
- For Pakistanis, Eid outside Pakistan is a truly multicultural experience
- Pakistani diaspora is fully connected to their roots and traditions
- Traditional meals, beautiful dresses, and visits to kin are part of the festivities
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani diaspora around the world celebrate Eid with equal enthusiasm and traditional fervour, if not more than those living in Pakistan. A large number of Pakistanis are currently living in all parts of the world, be it the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Africa, Australia or East Asia.
Pakistanis offer their prayers in mosques or multicultural centres in these countries, followed by family gatherings where Muslims from different parts of the world residing in these countries bring their traditional Eid dishes to eat together and celebrate. The prayers follow attendance at various Eid-themed events where a number of fun activities for families, especially children, are arranged.
Eid in East Asia
Despite being away from their families, Pakistani communities across Japan make a concerted effort to create a festive atmosphere. Shopping districts like Ameya-Yokocho in Tokyo witness an increase in shoppers buying traditional Pakistani clothes, sweets, and gifts. Many Pakistani restaurants and cultural centers host Eid Milan parties, bringing together families, friends, and even Japanese colleagues to celebrate the joyous occasion, according to a report published by The Weekly Mag.
Eid prayers are conducted at mosques and community halls across Japan, where thousands of Pakistanis gather to mark the end of Ramadan. After prayers, they visit each other’s homes, exchange gifts, and enjoy traditional Pakistani dishes like sheer khurma, biryani, and kebabs, according to the report.
In China, the Pakistani community mark the day with special prayers for peace, progress and prosperity of Pakistan.
Muslims in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Gansu province, Qinghai province and other parts of the country celebrate the Eidul Fitr festival with traditional zeal. The emphasis is on family reunions, meeting friends, enjoying meals and wearing new clothes.
According to Pakistan’s state-run APP, China is home to about 20 million Muslims from more than 10 ethnic minorities. The largest group is the Hui minority, which mainly hails from northwest China’s Ningxia Hui and Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous regions.
Eid in Middle East
Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other Gulf countries mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan by celebrating Eid.
Many of those in Saudi Arabia participate in mass gatherings for Eid prayers at Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.
A number of Muslims, including Pakistanis in Dubai, offer their Eid prayers at the Pakistan Education Academy in Oud Metha, according to Khaleej Times. For the Pakistani community in the Gulf, Eid is a time of happy reunions and embracing traditions. The festivities kick off after the prayers with visits to friends and relations. Pakistanis indulge in traditional dishes, sweets, and festive treats that add to the joyous atmosphere.
Eid in North America
There is a large Pakistani diaspora in the USA and Canada, which celebrates Eidul Fitr with traditional fervour and enjoys the day to the fullest. The local community centres and mosques are packed to capacity with Pakistanis dressed in their traditional best. The Eid prayers are followed by greetings and a visit to the various food stalls set up usually at the mosque grounds or the multicultural centres by Muslims from around the world. This is followed by visits to the homes of relatives and friends.
As Islam is the second-largest religion in Canada, the religious celebration is both diverse and vibrant, mirroring the country’s multicultural fabric. Cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal are filled with a sense of unity and belonging as thousands of Muslims come together in mosques, convention centers, and open fields for communal, special Eid prayer, according to Morocco World News.
Beyond religious observances, Canadian Muslims embrace a range of different cultural traditions to mark the occasion. Eid festivities and bazaars pop up in many Canadian cities, featuring cultural performances, halal food stalls, and entertainment for children, according to Morocco World News. Pakistani Muslims in Canada, just like Muslims from other parts of the world residing in Canada, fully take part in all the Eid-related festivities.
Eid in Europe
In Bradford, UK, where nearly a third of the district’s population is Muslim, according to the BBC, Pakistanis, like Muslims from other parts of the world, gather at the city’s Central Mosque to pray before they join their friends and family members for the festivities.
Since Ramadan is about sacrifice and empathy, like other Pakistanis, those in the UK and Europe are deeply saddened by the war in Gaza, and they have not forgotten the pain and sufferings of their Palestinian brothers. Many Pakistanis living in the UK and Europe have been involved in raising funds and humanitarian assistance for those affected by the war in Gaza, so that the Palestinian children too can join them in Eid.
Similarly, Pakistani Muslims in European cities of Paris and Berlin join Muslims from around the world in Eid festivities. Eid for Pakistanis living in Europe and the UK is a truly multicultural experience. They take part in numerous fairs and festivals arranged to celebrate the day.
