Eid-ul-Fitr has almost arrived. After a month of practicing abstinence and discipline, Eid is a time for us to celebrate with loved ones, to count our blessings, and to reflect on the lessons of Ramadan.
However, with massive fires breaking out all too frequently, to more road accidents, to the country being hit with one of the worst heat waves it has ever experienced -- it has not been an easy month, and the Eid holidays offer some much needed respite for all.
Which is why this Eid, it is all the more necessary to reflect -- not only on the past month, but on ourselves as well. We witnessed a number of tragedies in the holy month of Ramadan, which not only left many lives and livelihoods upturned, but also called attention to some of our shortcomings as a nation.
As rapid as our growth has been, recent incidents point towards the fact that there remains work to be done, so that the people, especially those less privileged than us, can also be guaranteed security and better ways of life.
This is also a good time to, once again, recognize and accept the religious diversity that exists in our country, despite a large portion of the population being of Muslim faith.
As the prime minister has recently reiterated, every person has the right to follow their own religion, and so it is our duty -- as Muslims and as citizens of a secular nation -- to protect those of different faiths from any kind of discrimination or injustice, and treat them with the basic decency and respect that is warranted.
In the spirit of Eid-ul-Fitr, we must work towards building more harmony -- religious, first and foremost, but also across the board -- and continue practicing acts of kindness, compassion, and unity which the holy month of Ramadan preaches.
Eid celebrations in the last few years have been a lot more cautious, owing to the threat of a deadly pandemic. With the need for social distancing almost completely disregarded, this year we must not forget to prioritize safety -- our own and that of others -- as we come together on this joyous occasion.
As we gear up to celebrate one of the biggest holidays on the Islamic calendar, let us keep the deprived, the diseased, and the deceased in our prayers, and carry the lessons of this sacred time forward for a better nation, a better life.
We wish all our readers a heartfelt Eid Mubarak.
