Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir and Sania Mirza lead Eid greetings from sports stars
Cricketers and tennis players on both sides of the border used social media to mark Eid-ul-Fitr, the holiday that closes the Ramzan fast.
Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Kaif, Sania Mirza and a long list of other sports figures used social media to send Eid-ul-Fitr wishes this week, turning their timelines into a stream of goodwill as Muslims across India and the world marked the festival.
Tendulkar kept his message short and spiritual, asking for blessings of health, happiness and prosperity. Kaif went a more personal route, sharing a photograph of himself at a dargah and wishing followers a peaceful Eid. Tennis star Sania Mirza asked for love and peace, with a nod to the sheer korma that is a festive staple in many homes.
The posts were not limited to Indian names. Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma sent their own greetings, while Pakistan's Hassan Ali and Asad Shafiq also joined in. Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden addressed Muslims around the world. Shafiq's post asked fans to keep him and his family in their prayers, a reminder that cricketers often speak to fans in a personal way.
For readers, the pile of messages is more than a social media trend. In a region where cricket can stir intense rivalry, these simple well-wishes from players who face each other on the field show how a festival can cut across sporting and national lines.
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramzan, the month of daily fasting that Muslims observe from dawn to sunset. The celebration begins on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and typically includes prayers, family meals and charity. Because the date depends on the sighting of the moon, it can shift from one country to another.
Read the full report at India.com.
