Eidi no longer as simple as pocket money

In what seems to be a new trend, ‘Eidi’, the pocket money given to children on Eid-Ul-Fitr to encourage them to fast in the month of Ramzan, is burning a hole in the pockets of their parents. These days, children prefer gifts, in most cases gadgets, rather than the traditional ‘Eidi’.

“I have bought my five-year-old son a Play Station 3 this year! I’m sure I’ll have to shell out some cash as well later,” laughed Arif Ginwalla, a businessman. He admitted that his friends had also similarly bought their children expensive gifts for Eid. “Eidi used to be as simple as handing over cash. Now, it has all changed due to the evolution in technology. Kids no longer want cash,” agreed Kaisar Begum, a resident of Malakpet. She and her husband have bought their 14-year old daughter a laptop as a gift for fasting in Ramzan.

With new gadgets being released each year, expectations among children also seem to be growing. Android phones, tablets, iPhones, laptops, iPods, etc seem to be on the wish list of most kids and youngsters who are in no mood to compromise, as they feel Eid comes just once a year. “This is the only chance I get to ask for an expensive gift, so I make the most of it,” laughs Moeed Bin Azeez (20), a resident of Musheerabad. He pointed out that most of his friends have in fact a collection of various gadgets – all bought on the occasion of Eid over the last few years.

“I’m sure I will get what I asked for this Ramzan. Last year, my parents bought me an IPod Nano. This year, I have asked for an Xbox 360,” said 17-year-old Sameem Ahmed, a college student. Parveen Khan, a mother of two, however, feels this shift is not a good sign.

“Eidi is given to encourage children take up fasting, so they are used to it after they grow up. Now, my two sons feel it is their right to receive gifts compulsorily every year!,” she lamented.

In spite of the changing trend, those who prefer to gift children in the traditional way with cash, also feel that giving Eidi has become an expensive affair. “I used to give my 12 grandchildren not more than Rs 300 per head years ago,”  reminisced Ebrahim Mohammed, a resident of East Marreddpally. Although many of them are earning now, I still gift the children `1000 every year!” he explained.