For Arshad Shaikh, this Bakri Eid is going to be different, especially because he will be celebrating it with his father in Mumbai after 2019. “During the Covid-19 pandemic, we moved back to our hometown in Bihar and were living there,” he says. The fact that the last two years have not been the best for most people is known and that meant that even Shaikh’s family didn’t celebrate it like they always do because of the lack of funds for the festival. Now that things are better, they are getting back to celebrating it in a small way with close family. “I have returned after completing my master’s degree in history at Jamia Millia only two weeks ago and my sister is also back after completing her studies,” adds the 23-year-old Thane resident, who has a family of seven.

Even though the festival’s celebrations aren’t set to be a big one, it is slowly returning to normal for many Muslims in Mumbai, who have missed enjoying Bakri Eid with their family and friends in the last two years. While it started in a small way with Ramzan Eid, Bakri Eid is going to be a feast for many like Shaikh in the city. As the community brings in the festival on July 10 this year, three Mumbaikars revealed the preparations and celebrations to Mid-day Online.