ISLAMABAD, June 18 (Xinhua) -- As majority of people in Pakistan believe that the perfect gift for Eid al Fitr is a fresh and crisp banknote, paper money worth around 360 billion rupees (about 3 billion U.S. dollars) was replaced by the new notes by the State bank of Pakistan (SBP) on the jovial occasion of the festival.
In Pakistan, giving Eid gift in the form of new notes is a deep-rooted tradition as a part of the celebrations and the amount depends on the financial status of a family.
The practice of giving brand new notes on the occasion compelled the government to release new currency notes of various denominations each year. It is normally given to the younger members of the family by their parents, immediate relatives and their close friends.
The demand for new currency notes this year has risen 50 percent as compared to the last year, said the country's central bank in a statement earlier, adding that "the total booking limit of 2.7 million customers has also been increased this year by 50 percent as compared to the 1.8 million customer limit last year."
Tahir Muhammad Khan, a bank manager at a private bank, told Xinhua that people used to spend hours in lines waiting to acquire new notes from banks in the past but this year the SBP in collaboration with the Pakistan Banks Association introduced an SMS service for the issuance of new currency notes which helped the public avoiding queuing under the strong sunshine.
"Thousands of people come to buy brand new banknotes each Eid to present as Eidi' to loved ones. New and old banknotes are equal in worth but new ones are preferred on Eid," Khan said, adding that people love to receive them.
Eid al Fitr in Pakistan is also known as the sweet festival and the sugar feast and is celebrated for three days consecutively. The government of Pakistan have announced four-day break till Monday for the Eid celebrations this year.
It is the happiest occasion for the children particularly because they receive a lot of presents and brand new pocket money from their elders and they are allowed to spend their money as they want.
In Pakistan, Eid day begins with a special prayer in all cities, towns and villages. Everyone puts on fancy new clothes especially bought for the occasion. People make special dishes for the Eid which are mostly sweets and deserts of different types specially vermicelli which they send to their relatives, friends and neighbors.
People also visit their relatives and friends all day and share the joy of the day. Some go to parks, seaside, rivers or lake fronts to enjoy and relax.
As a part of a tradition on the occasion, a large number of people also flocked to the graves of their loved loves and offered prayers. They do so with the intention of "meeting the deceased" on Eid.
Strict security arrangements have also been made across the country as people celebrate Eid al Fitr, one of the most important festival of the year. Law-enforcement agencies have strengthened security at public places, mosques, markets, important buildings and other recreational places to thwart any untoward incident.