Festivals are either cultural or religious. Religious festivals have a cultural touch, of course, but natives won’t notice as their culture is with them every day of the year. Although you may find many of your country mates cherish the joys together, or even celebrate festivals with your expat/local friends, you still miss that true festival feel and essence of  your home country. 

Sometimes, you have no option but to ‘celebrate’ special occasions either in classrooms attending lectures, or at the office. An evening with local friends doing what you would do at home can be fulfilling, but it will never substitute the real pleasure of being with your family and friends at your native place.

On the other hand, you are presented with the luxury to celebrate festivals from your ‘guest culture’, you get to experience a different phase of life, and observe all kinds of ways to celebrate. This surely helps you to broaden your vision.

On October 4, Muslims around the globe will be celebrating a religious festival named as Eid-ul-Adha (Feast of the sacrifice in English, or Kurban Bayram in Turkish). Apart from the religious rituals and message of sacrifice, harmony and peace, Eid has a rich cultural tradition of food, gatherings of family and friends, and varieties of new attire and outfits. It offers attractions for men and women of all age groups. I wish everyone a very happy and blessed Eid day.