A spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu has asked Muslims to obey the ban on noisemaking as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr today [Wednesday].
“Celebration can be done not necessarily with drumming. Till the ban is lifted we will not lose anything so I will advise the youth to look at other forms of celebration that will not be in conflict with traditional authorities.”
Muslims across the world will celebrate Eid al-Fitr to end the month-long fasting in the Holy month of Ramadan.
The day, which will be observed as a holiday for the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims, is also being observed in Ghana as a holiday.
But the start of the holiday varies from country to country because the start of Eid is traditionally based on sightings of the crescent, which sometimes differ from astronomical calculations and vary according to geographic location.
Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in all Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of vacation days varies by country.
Muslims across the world begin Eid celebrations by partaking in communal dawn prayers, followed by a short sermon.
While in some countries the prayers take place in mosques or large halls, in many countries it is also held in the open.
People congratulate one another as they head home after Eid prayers. They spend the day visiting relatives and neighbours and accepting sweets as they move around from house to house. Children, dressed in new clothes, are offered gifts and money to celebrate the joyous occasion.
This is preceded by the giving of alms to the poor, or zakat, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.