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    Culinary Delights on Eid

    Written by: Nayha Jehangir Khan
    Posted on: April 21, 2023 | | 中文

    Eid Dinner

    Muslims spend the month of Ramadan engaged in religious duties of fasting from dawn till dusk. Attending daily prayers, recitations of the Quran and spiritual healing become synonymous with fasting. Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of fasting, when the first crescent moon is sighted. The following morning there is an Eid Prayer held for the entire community at a local mosque. Festivities begin at the end of the morning congregation where men, women & children exchange joyful salutations of “Eid Mubarak”

    Biryani

    On returning home, the first Eid treat expected to be served are saviyaan, which are made using wheat vermicelli that are fried in ghee and fresh milk. A traditional masterpiece with roots dating back to the Mughal era, the comforting flavours are further enhanced to create the perfect Sheer Khurma that includes cardamom, pistachios, almonds, saffron and dates. Popular worldwide, with a wide variety of variations to the recipe, depending on the region and history, it can be prepared with or without milk, and served with fresh cream and a side of mixed nuts to generously garnish your bowl.

    Sweets made for Eid

    The rest of the day is spent meeting family and friends, some hoping to catch the first meal of the day together. The breakfast meal is elevated into a royal affair by serving traditional nashta of Halwa, Puri & Channa, which is the perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavours. The Halwa is made from sweet semolina, while the Channa has chickpeas in a masala curry. The bread is light and crisp made by deep-frying in sizzling hot ghee. Wearing new clothes and applying mehndi are traditionally practised in many households throughout the country. Children eagerly wait in anticipation to receive edhi (money gifted to children on Eid) from parents, grandparents and close relatives.

    Halwa Puri and Channa

    These family gatherings are spread out throughout the entire day transforming lunch and dinner into scrumptious home-cooked feasts. The decadent and mouthwatering Shahi Korma is a slow-cooked dish prepared using either lamb, chicken, mutton or beef served only on special occasions. Usually paired with hot tandoori bread such as Roghni Naan, another important item on the Eid menu is Biryani. The name Biryani has its origin in the Persian language, as the word Birinj means rice. Since the Mughal time, the mixed rice recipe has travelled all over the world for its aromatic and rich taste. Considered to be a difficult dish to prepare, as it requires technical skill to measure each ingredient precisely while it is slow-cooked and smoked over charcoal. It can be served with traditional curry dishes such as mirchi ka salan and baghare baingan.

    Nihari

    Another classic for meat lovers is the Beef Paya, which is prepared by cooking the hooves of a cow, goat, buffalo or sheep until they are soft, in curry masalas. Slow cooking is an essential part of preparing Nihari that over the course of 4 to 6 hours infuses the meat gravy with the original taste of all the spices. The constant presence of Haleem during weddings, holidays and year-long festivities shows that it is an essential part of our food culture. Haleem is in the form of a thick stew prepared using pounded chicken or beef mixed into a variety of lentils and grains that is a nutritious and flavorful main dish at the lunch or dinner table. Have these curries with the luxurious saffron-flavoured flatbread called Sheermal that will bind together the spectrum of flavours that have landed on your plate. The summer heat has picked up and temperatures are rising as we get closer to the Eid day. The perfect chilled glass of Lassi or Sardai will ensure you are hydrated throughout the day.

    Haleem

    Recipes for these complex savoury dishes are handed down for generations, creating a legacy of food culture individualised to each family’s ancestry. Sweet dishes also require meticulous preparation and are considered an integral part of Eid celebrations. What is commonly known as bread pudding is transformed into the tantalising Shahi Tukda, which is considered one of the most popular sweet dishes for Eid. Other favourites include Phirni, Zarda, Doodh jaleebi & Ras Malai, which are prepared according to each family’s preferences and particular customs. Eid Ul Fitr is a joyous occasion that brings together family and friends enjoying conversation, laughter and love through sharing a memorable meal.

    Shahi Tukda


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021