MUMBAI: With the city plunged in grief and despair, many Muslims are foregoing Eid shopping and directing the funds to charity. Though Eid, one of the most important Muslim festivals, is just a few days away (May 13 or 14), there is no buzz around festivities even as community leaders and volunteers are engaged in reaching out to people with oxygen cylinders, medicines, hospital beds and Eid ration.
“Eid doesn’t mean flaunting clothes and fine cuisine. It is a festival to share joy but since we are reeling under the assault of a pandemic, this Eid should be an occasion to help the needy,” said Iqbal Memon Officer, president, All India Memon Jamaat Federation, an umbrella organisation of 500 Memon jamaats. “Don’t spend much on buying clothes. Pay school fees of poor children, buy oxygen cylinders and pay hospital bills of poor patients battling Covid,” said Officer in an audio message which has gone viral.