What are your plans for the evening before Eid? Will you put on henna, make music with friends, cook for unexpected guests?
Two of my favourite parts of Ramadan is waiting for the news of the moon’s sighting, announcing Eid, and preparing festive food for unexpected guests.
The subject tonight is love
And for tomorrow night as well,
As a matter of fact
I know of no better topic
For us to discuss
Until we all
Die!
-- Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky
For the three days after Eid, no invitations are required, friends are welcome to one another’s house for embraces and deliciousness.
What better time than Eid to visit those you haven’t seen in a long time due to work and the daily routine? Friends may be apart for any length of time, but they are in one another always.
Friend, our closeness is this: Anywhere you put your foot,
Feel me in the firmness under you.
-- Rumi
If you are not feeling the holiday mood but would like to, why not try some laughter yoga to lift your cheers (boost those joyful hormones in your body)?
Inspired by the Laughter Yoga Club of South Bombay and the Laughter Yoga University, the following easy steps will get you giggling. Do try to do it with family and friends, because one laugh inspires another.
Step 1: Clapping and warming-up exercises
Clap hands chanting “Ho ho, ha ha ha, hee hee hee” while making sure that all fingers make contact.
The chant involves deep exhalation.
Make up any sound and speak in gibberish until unconditional giggles outflow.
Step 2: Deep breathing exercises
Breathe deeply and allow each person to introduce a unique form of laughter starting at the lowest of pitches, increasing in pitch from person to person, while others have to imitate. Do this until you burst out into unconditional laughter.
Step 3: Childlike playfulness
Clap for one another with childlike playfulness.
Laughter
What is laughter? What is laughter?
It is God waking up! O it is God waking up!
It is the sun poking its sweet head out
From behind a cloud
You have been carrying too long,
Veiling your eyes and heart.
It is light breaking ground for a great structure
That is your real body -- called truth.
It is happiness applauding itself and then taking flight
To embrace everyone and everything in this world.
Laughter is the polestar
Held in the sky by our Beloved,
Who eternally says,
“Yes, dear ones, come this way,
Come this way toward Me and love!
-- Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky
Shireen Pasha is a contributor.
