Festivals of Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is a group of 36 islands of coral reefs located off the shore of Kerala, India. Not all islands are habited and very few are open to tourists. The majority of the people living in Lakshadweep follow Islam. Hence, all the Muslim festivals are celebrated here. Eid-ul-Fitr is the most important festival of all. It is celebrated on the new moon after the month of Ramadan. Muslims fast during the daytime of Ramadan and Eid-Ul-Fitr marks the ending of this fast. On this day, huge feasts are made in families and eaten with friends and relatives. Bakrid is another festival celebrated in these islands that mark the end of the journey of Mecca pilgrims. This day is celebrated to commemorate the day when Prophet Ibrahim sacrificed his son’s life to show his devotion to the almighty.
There are other festivals celebrated here such as Milad-un-nabi, Muharram, and many other regional and national festivals of India. Milad-un-nabi celebrates the birth of Prophet Muhammad. On this day several religious meetings are held in many parts of Lakshwadeep. Muharram celebrates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain. He was the grandson of Prophet Mohammad who used to live in Karbala in Iraq. The main tradition of the day is people earnestly chanting ‘Ya Hussein’ while beating their chests
Dates of festivals that follow the lunar calendar can shift by a day depending on the moon and on official notifications. Please confirm with your state government or employer before planning.