Shane Nigam: My fondest Eid memories are of family get-togethers

For Shane Nigam, Eid is inseparable from memories of overflowing family gatherings, cricket matches with cousins and the warmth of a bustling ancestral home.

“My fondest memories are of the whole family coming together at our paternal tharawad in Muvattupuzha,” says Shane. “It would happen twice a year, during both Eid celebrations. We would also visit my mother’s family home in Fort Kochi,” he shares.

‘Playing cricket with cousins is a core memory’
The celebrations would begin early in the day, with new clothes, prayers at the mosque and preparations for a large family lunch. “Everyone would eat together, and afterwards, the elders would give the youngsters pocket money — almost like Vishu kaineettam,” he recalls with a smile. “We used to wait eagerly for that because we would stretch that money for months, going to the theatre or treating ourselves,” he says.

But for Shane, some of the strongest memories lie not around the dining table, but outside the house. While the elders rested after lunch, the younger cousins would rush off to play cricket.

“That is such a core memory for me,” he says, “Once, we broke a window while playing. Our grandfather didn’t scold us, but the next time, that entire area was sealed off. Playing cricket there with my four cousins is something I still remember vividly.”

‘The idea is to ensure everyone has a good meal’
Shane also remembers the Bakrid tradition of animal sacrifice that would take place in the large compound behind the house.

“When I was younger, I used to feel a little uneasy about it. Later, when I wanted to participate, those days had already passed,” he says.

The meat, he explains, would then be distributed among family members and also shared with poorer households in the neighbourhood. “Only a small portion would remain at home for cooking. Most of it had to be shared. The whole idea was to ensure that everyone had a good meal that day.”

The house that held generations of memories
The family gatherings eventually came to an end after Shane’s grandparents sold the ancestral home in 2012, finding it difficult to manage on their own.

“Letting go of the house was overwhelming for all of us cousins,” he says. “I was in college then. One last time, my cousin and I borrowed a scooter and went there just to spend some time in the house. It carried so many memories for us,” he signs off, on a wistful note.