"To load and bless" during Eid

A dear friend of mine of 30 years, Najibeh, who lives in Islamabad, and visits her parents in Dhaka every year, for Eid-ul-Azha, feels that she must get me a shalwar-kameez-dupatta set, each time she meets me on the occasion. She brings packets of dry fruits for most of her other friends, while I get the special treat. I admit, as a run-of the-mill, hack writer, I cannot respond with a similar gracious gesture. I "cool it", and give her a buss on the cheek and my friend reddens with sheer happiness at this simple kiss. She knows the overture is from the heart, and lets it go at that.

Shimu, a colleague of mine, once showed me photographs of her five-year-old daughter, Hiya, and added, "She got five sets of clothes from my in-laws. She was ‘over the moon’ with delight. Of course, since you ask, I too got gifts for my in-laws. I, in turn, received gorgeous kaftans, and dripping costume jewellery that might even make the Queen of Sheba green with envy."

Eid gifts give one a feeling of bonhomie and happiness, perhaps equalled only by the gifts under the Yule tree.

One does not necessarily have to get expensive or oodles of gifts during any festive season of ours. Simply a packet of sweets -- dotted with almonds and raisins, or trimmed -- with pistachio fragments, or a well-preserved book -- covered with a neat glossy paper, or even a basket of oranges should convey the message. The gift speaks of genuine camaraderie and the warmth of the heart of the giver. The recipient is bound to feel wanted and loved.