The three Khan superstars, Shah Rukh, Salman, and Aamir, celebrate every major religious festival in India, be it Diwali, Eid, Christmas, or Holi, with equal enthusiasm. During Eid, Salman’s home, Galaxy Apartment, is the brightest in Mumbai. It’s an open house at Salman’s on Eid, with guests of every religious order streaming in throughout the day to savour the delicacies that Salman’s mother and the cooks whip up in the constantly active kitchen.
Food flows. So does good conversation. Shabana Azmi, says,“This Eid, our house is completely under renovation, and we are living in a small flat, so it’s a very small lunch with only family, with full focus only on food. But I did the mandatory badaam cutting for the Sheer Khorma last night, like Mummy used to do. I’ve received lots of messages from friends and nieces complaining bitterly that they are missing the food and their eidi, so we will compensate for it next year. My parents (poet Kaifi Azmi and actress Shaukat Azmi) entertained at our home without prejudice. During earlier times, Abba (father Kaifi Azmi)’s friends would drop in, and the standard fare was dahi vadas and sheer khorma. Now, everybody just comes for lunch. Biryani, kabaab, aloo ghost, chicken dum, mirchi ka salan, and sheer khorma are the Eid menu. On the night before Eid, everyone pools in to cut the badaam and pista for the sheer khorma. Kids put on mehndi, and the bangle-wali comes to make jodas for all, and everybody waits with bated breath to sight the Eid Ka Chand. Alas, the ghararas have made way for the more practical salwar-kurta. Kids look forward to their Eidi. I love the goodwill and the bonhomie and, most of all, the continuity of tradition. My sister-in-law Tanve is a Hindu, and she celebrates Eid with unconditional joy. Javed and I are equally enthused by Eid and Holi. Friends are called over, bonhomie flows. It’s a time when everybody feels so much love. There is singing, dancing, and lots and lots of good food. There is no difference between Holi and Eid. Festivity is identity-free.”
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Veteran actress Zarina Wahab doesn’t celebrate Eid at home, “Because I am married into a Hindu family, and there isn’t much happening during Eid in my own home. So, I rush to my sister’s place during Eid. It’s the one time of the year when I indulge myself freely in the food that I like to cook for all my friends throughout the year.”
For Ghazal singer Talat Aziz, Eid is a day of huge importance. “Eid prayer in the mosque. Then, at home, my wife makes sheer khorma, and we have it first thing in the morning. When (classical vocalist) Sultan Khan Saheb was alive, I would go to his house for Eid, as he lived nearby, and would have some tea and sheer khorma. I would also visit Khayyam Sahab. The rest of the Eid greetings would be attended to on WhatsApp, as I receive a lot of greetings on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram these days. I try to acknowledge each one as best as I can. Then we go to Sanjay Khan and Zarine’s house for the Eid party they host every year.”
Mahesh Bhatt is in the mood for celebrations. “Celebrations begin as soon as we spot the moon. Like every year, we usher in Eid by playing Gali Mein Aaj Chand Nikla from my last directorial film Zakhm. I look forward to eating my Eid speciality, a uniquely designed vegetable biryani made especially for me by my neighbour. Do you know I keep all the Roza in memory of my mother? I’ve been doing that since 1998, after her demise.”
