Question For Muslims, Hindus And Nonchristians For Research

[carolegif]

When you have a special festival or make pilgrimages, are they commercialised like Christmas?
Do they have stalls everywhere selling tat (plastic artefacts etc.)?
Do they rip you off for good, meals, hotels and fares?

Many thanks.

[keyplus90]

In Islam main festival is Eid. But it is not commercialised as such. We celebrate two eids and one is basically family get together and the other is where you buy and sacrifice animal mainly for the purpose of charity, but even that is only obligatory for the people who can afford it and have no debts.

As for pilgrimage, again Hajj is the pilgrimage in Islam and it is visiting Places in Saudi Arabia in a specific month and is compulsory again only for the people who can afford it financially as well as physically.

[mushroom25]

the Hajj has in the past been subject to the machinations of the unscrupulous...
https://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/advice-and-support/fraud-and-economic-crime/nfib/nfib-news/Pages/hajj-fraud.aspx

[hc4361]

The hajj is becoming commericialised in the view of a lot of people who don't consider a first class flight, luxury hotels to be in the spirit of pilgrimage.

http://www.islamiceconomist.com/?p=611

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/oct/23/mecca-architecture-hajj1

[hc4361]

London shops and hotels rake in a fortune from rich Muslims celebrating Eid and Ramadan and they are not particular modest when it comes to flashing their wealth.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/life-style/travel-and-tourism/2014/07/29/-Ramadan-rush-hour-as-supercars-hit-London-streets-for-Eid.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2717227/More-blingtastic-vulgar-It-s-month-super-rich-Arabs-flock-orgy-spending-And-year-cars-taking-excess-new-level.html

[carolegif]

Seems it is not just Christmas that is getting too commercialised, but other religions still seem to keep the religious meaning whereas the Christian side of Christmas seems to be forgotten.

[keyplus90]

What religion says and what people do are two different things.

[beso]

//the Christian side of Christmas seems to be forgotten.//

Many people have simply reverted to the original solstice celebration with the focus on family and friends instead of the morbid Christian myths.