Friday, December 21

Eid ul-Fitr in Manchester and cultural deviation

It is Eid ul Fitr today. In evenings, I was impressed with the dress and joy of Muslim families crowded on street. How beautiful outfits and all suit so well with them.

Late in the evenings, I had to take my friend Yanin home, she cooked amazing Thai food with combination with Indian dish from Neela. I happily took her home.

On street, it was full of people, but only two distinguishable groups; police and young Pakistani(I knew they were Pakistani as they screamed Pakistan! Pakistan and wore flags all over).

Youn men and few girls were apparently excited about Holiday. They pressed honks and played car musics out of loud and make loud noises all ways down Oxford and Wilmslow streets. Some formed in a groups and gathered around.

Many thought me as Chinese and greeted me "Ni Hua Ma" with strange ways. I smiled and passed all, feeling threatened.

At home, I talked about this holiday with Rohit- Indian. He knows all about culture and celebrations in India and associated countries around such as Pakistan and Bangladesh. According to him, how Eid celebrated was very different from what I had a quick taste of it.

So, I think this is one among examples of cultural deviation. Celebrating tradition is still big event in immigrant populations in UK, but it certainly changed the traditions way different, somehow wrongly than what it meant to be. It is now more of expression of cultural or national identity.

I hope peace should be carried on all transformation of any cultural celebrations at most.

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