By Zakarya Farahmand
Every community is recognized through its festivals, traditions, and cultural values. For us in
Afghanistan, the two Eids (Eid Ul Fiter and Eid Ul Azha) are not only religious celebrations but
also moments of collective joy, unity, and social connection. Since childhood, I used to count the
weeks and days until the arrival of Eid with excitement and anticipation.These are the Eid traditions that I remember from my village in Malistan district of Ghazni
province, where Eid celebrations transformed the entire community into one united family.Preparations for Eid in our village began even before the actual day of celebration. Three nights
before Eid, villagers would organize a traditional gathering locally known as “Eid-e Morda-ha(عید مرده ها)
During these nights, people came together to offer prayers for deceased members of the village community through communal meals, gatherings, and mutual invitations.The village would be divided into two groups, and the male members of one side would become
guests of families from the other side. The following night, the arrangement would be reversed.In this way, each household from one part of the village hosted a household from the other
part, creating a strong spirit of hospitality,remembrance, and collective participation before Eid.These gatherings were not only social traditions but also acts of respect and prayer for those
who had passed away. By the final night before Eid, all formal guest visits were completed so
that families could freely prepare for the main celebration the next morning.Eid in our village is more than a celebration; it is a reflection of togetherness and happiness
shared by the entire community. Days before Eid, families clean their homes, prepare food, and
arrange the best facilities they can afford. On Eid, everyone wears either new clothes or their
cleanest freshly washed clothes, making the atmosphere colorful and festive regardless of
economic condition.On the morning of Eid, children wake up early with excitement while boys, girls, and women
remain busy preparing the home for guests, cooking food, boiling eggs for traditional games,
and getting ready for the celebration. At the same time, elders and heads of families first visit
the homes of those who have recently lost loved ones. They offer condolences and spend time
with grieving families so that nobody feels forgotten during Eid.After these visits, the men of the village gather in the mosque for Eid prayers. Once the prayers
and supplications are completed, all male members of the village gather together in front of the
village dome, each bringing one plate of food from their homes. Before serving the food,
children, youth, and even adults gather to play the traditional boiled-egg game, one of the most
exciting and enjoyable parts of Eid celebrations for the youth of the village. After the communal meal and Eid prayers (Dua), everyone begins greeting one another by
shaking hands, hugging, and exchanging Eid wishes. Younger people respectfully greet elders
and receive blessings in return. Then the most beautiful part of the celebration begins.People divide themselves into groups of around ten persons and start visiting every house in the
village one by one. In our village of nearly twenty houses, no home is excluded. Visiting families
during Eid is not merely a social custom but almost a collective responsibility for the male
members of the community. Families welcome one another regardless of personal
disagreements, social differences, or past conflicts. These visits continue until sunset, turning
the entire village into one united family for the day.Hospitality also carries its own friendly competition. Villagers quietly observe which household
has prepared the best food for Eid guests, adding a joyful and humorous spirit to the
celebrations. One of the most beautiful aspects of this tradition is the atmosphere of mutual
respect and social trust within the community. Even within the conservative structure of rural
Afghan society, women of the household openly exchange Eid greetings and wishes with visiting
guests without feelings of discomfort or social distance. Eid creates a rare sense of collective
belonging in which community relationships become more important than social barriers.
On the second and third days of Eid, men visit relatives living in nearby villages while also
receiving guests from outside. At the same time, women continue their own Eid celebrations
inside the village for nearly a week by visiting one another’s homes, sharing food, conversations,
and happiness.Although I left my village nearly fifteen years ago, these traditions of Eid celebration still
continue today. Yet for those of us living far from home, Eid often arrives through phone calls,
photographs, and social media memories rather than through the warmth of collective village
gatherings.Even after many years, the nostalgia of those simple celebrations, shared meals, boiled-egg
games, and house-to-house visits remains deeply alive in my memory. Eid in our village is not
only a religious festival; it is a celebration of unity, compassion, hospitality, respect, and
.belonging
