5 things to do during Eid holidays

Many of us fail to enjoy Eid beyond meeting our loved ones or eating scrumptious food. However, there is a lot of other stuff that can be done to make your Eid enjoyable and worth looking forward to. Yes, it is an occasion of celebration and festivity but side by side, the long Eid break also gives you a chance to unwind and carry on the activities that you had halted because of your extremely busy routine. Here are some of the ways that you can make the most out of the Eid holidays.

1.  Mingle with your neighbours

In the rut of our daily lives and our increasing dependency on the internet for social interactions, we forget the importance of meeting people and more importantly the ones who live right in our vicinity. Ever wonder who will be the first one to come to your help in case of an emergency? Well, before anyone, it is going to be your neighbours. Eid is the best time to socialise with your neighbours and make them feel special. Take a home-cooked sweet dish like sheer khorma and give them a pleasant surprise on this joyful occasion.

2.  Spread smiles among the poor

Eidul Fitr is all about celebration and recreation. A lot of people are not fortunate enough to celebrate Eid lavishly like a lot of us so spend some time with patients at hospitals or elderly at old homes. Donate some of your clothes and carry a box of sweets to spread joy and happiness with others. The festival carries on for three days; it won’t be that difficult to spare an hour or so of your time from your friends and relatives.

3.  Watch these exciting movies 

For all the Bollywood lovers, Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a must-watch due to its amazing cast and melodious songs. On the other hand, all those who fancy watching a Pakistani movie, Bin Roye will keep you thoroughly entertained. It is based on Farhat Ishtiaq’s acclaimed novel Bin Roye Aansoo and has been produced from the very popular Momina Duraid, director of Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Humsafar. Go watch at least one of them!

4.  Grab a book to read

If you have missed reading books due to your hectic routine then The Spinner’s Tale is a must-read during Eid holidays. It wonderfully portrays the psyche of the modern jihadi and his motivations. It is an engaging tale that gives a detailed account of the life of the fictional Sheikh Ahmed Uzair Sufi and what motivated him to commit the crimes he did. There must have been books that you left half way through due to other engagements — now is the perfect time to catch up on them and resume work with a fresh mind.

5.  Watch these addictive TV shows

For those feeling the blues due to being away from family, a great way to keep yourself distracted on Eid is to binge-watch gripping TV shows. Many people in Pakistan prefer staying at home during day time, so instead of making your Eid boring by having nothing to do, download some good TV shows to keep you glued to the screen. Silicon Valley is one TV series to look forward to this Eid. It is HBO’s funniest series and possibly one of the most liked ones as well. You should also get your hands on Empire and if you haven’t watched the latest season of Game of Thrones and are not bothered by the spoilers than see what the Lannisters are up to. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th,  2015.

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