After Fasting for Ramadan, Only Doughnuts Will Do
The New York Times
For some Muslim Americans, the best (and only) way to celebrate Eid al-Fitr is with a couple dozen doughnuts.
Pop quiz: It’s the morning of Eid al-Fitr at the mosque, marking the end of Ramadan. After 30 days of fasting, it’s time to indulge in your first meal during daylight hours. What do you reach for?
As soon as Eid prayers are over, Saagar Shaikh is on a mission: “My eyes scan the room, and I’m looking for the nearest Krispy Kreme box, because that’s what I’m conditioned to do,” said the actor, who currently stars in the comedy series “Deli Boys” on Hulu.
Across the United States, Eid runs on Dunkin’ — or Krispy Kreme or a local bakery, depending on where your mosque caters from. As congregants mingle with friends and family, nearby tables heave with dozens of boxes of chocolate-frosted, glazed or jelly-stuffed pastries.
“It’s not Eid unless there’s doughnuts,” said Sharaf Mowjood, a producer for CBS News. “This is just the beginning — that doughnut sets the tone for the rest of the day.”
Like many American religious communities, Muslims across the country have gravitated toward those orbs of fried dough: They’re cheap, easy to cater in large quantities early in the morning — and nothing pairs more beautifully with that hallowed first morning coffee in 30 days. They’re also often halal-friendly.
