Chand Raat

Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated after Ramadan after sighting the Shawwal moon, which officially announces the end of Ramadan. The night of moon sighting (29th or 30th Ramadan) is called Chand Raat and once moon is sighted then all is celebration, excitement and greetings. The youth engage in exploding fire crackers and jubilating, while girls apply henna or Mehndi (temporary tattoos) on their hands. The women get busy in making food preparation for the next day. People flood markets to do last minute shopping for the eid as it is traditional to wear new clothes on eid, wear bangles and apply mehndi on hands and cook sweet dishes.