Eid is approaching and everyone is in anticipation of this holy and joyous festival. After a seemingly endless month of fasting, a thin sliver of moon will show itself, signifying the end of the lunar cycle, and with it, the end of the month of Ramadan. The night of the sighting of this new moon is called Chandraat and it is very significant to the followers of Islam. Munira Fidai charts down the significance of the night.
Chandraat has held religious significance for a long time but it has never before been celebrated with so much gusto, especially in the Indian subcontinent. The lunar cycle ends every month and therefore, while Chandraat takes place each month as well, it is never held to be more significant or more anticipated as it is, before Eid-ul-Fitr. The reason for this is fairly simple. The beginning and end of Ramadan depends on the lunar cycle. Hence, the month of Ramadan may last 29 or 30 days depending on Chandraat. The exact date of Eid-ul-Fitr is never surely known until the sighting of Shawwal’s first lunar crescent. The anticipation and expectation of the moon is what lends Chandraat its charm. It is seen as a reward for the long month of abstinence (Sawm) in the form of Ramadan and a prelude to the Eid celebrations the following day. While Chandraat is equally revered on Eid-ul-Azha, it is not looked forward to so impatiently as it is on Eid-ul-Fitr. This is because Eid-ul-Azha is usually announced 10 days before it is to be celebrated, dissipating anticipation. Some may compare this night to Christmas Eve, to make it easier to understand.
Once the new moon is sighted, cries of Chand Mubarak are heard all around and the Ummah, almost suddenly shifts gears from regid to festive mode. And why not? After all, while Chandraat bids farewell to the holy month of Ramadan and brings in the month of Shawwal, it also signifies the end of fasting and the beginning of feasting. After a hard month of fasting, celebrating with some worldly indulgence is well deserved, it seems!
While it is good to offer prayers of gratitude and forgiveness after successfully completing Ramadan, there is no specific way decreed as to how to properly pay respect to this night. Gratitude and forgiveness hold special importance because it is believed that the month of Ramadan rains blessings on all Muslims and God is ever merciful to forgive the mistakes of believers. Some prefer to offer special prayers for the deceased members of their kith and kin on Chandraat.
In keeping with the ethics of Ramadan, most people prefer to keep the spirit of charity alive in their actions on Chandraat as well. In addition to offering alms to the needy, many provide new clothes to their domestic help and street children on this night. Many, again, also prefer to feed the needy on Chandraat and maximise blessings from the last night of Ramadan.
While quite obviously Chandraat signifies the end of fasting, moderation in the way it is celebrated is encouraged. Instead of jumping straight into food and drinks, it is better to ease into the new eating routine. It is scientifically proven that a month of fasting acts like a cleanse or detox for your body. Anyone who has experienced detox before knows how difficult it is for your body to suddenly change the way it has worked for a full month, which is (hopefully) with prudence and in a matter of hours go back to hogging. So for those who want to enjoy the actual festival of Eid to the fullest, it is good to abstain from gluttony on this night, Ramadan or not!
Not only this, many nowadays feel the need to celebrate Chandraat by wearing loud clothes and going to the most happening hangout areas. This sort of behavior is discouraged for two reasons. Of course, there is the safety aspect to think of. Ramadan, being the holiest month, sees the most charity. It also sees the most street crime. Especially in the metro city of Dhaka, chances of being car jacked or mugged increase by a good mile in the month anticipating Eid. The more gaudy and decked up you look, the more chances that muggers and those intending harm will have, to single you out for their crimes.
Some with cars usually act irresponsibly with speed limits on this night. This is especially true for Dhaka city, which almost always becomes very empty closer to this Eid, because people go to their native villages to celebrate. This encourages people behind the wheel to step hard on the accelerators, often resulting in bad news. One must remember that Chandraat is a time to enjoy with loved ones responsibly. Extravagance here too, must be checked, especially when it borders dangerously close to mortal peril.
Those who have religiously followed the dos and don’ts of Ramadan should remember that festive times can make you forget the more important things- in this case, the Isha prayers. You do not want to be marked absent on the prayer list, first thing after Ramadan. Chandraat, therefore, teaches us to remain conscious and in touch with all the good habits that we take up during Ramadan, all through the year.
In a nutshell, Chandraat is a night of the culmination of the efforts of charity, sexual abstinence (during the daytime) and fasting throughout Ramadan. Needless to say, it is the one night that is looked forward to with much pleasure and reverence. While no way is set in stone to celebrate this joyous occasion, it is only sensible to observe Chandraat in a way that is in line with the good habits made during Ramadan and to consider the feelings of the less fortunate while we rejoice and make merry. It is best to treat Chandraat as a prelude to the main festival of Eid, the following day, rather than a festival on its own. Chandraat and Eid Mubarak!