When Eid Cards spoke louder than texts
Eid cards were not just greetings, they were small treasures exchanged with excitement
Once upon a time, the joyous arrival of Eid felt incomplete without the charm of Eid cards.
I still remember standing in front of a small stationery shop before Eid, carefully flipping through stacks of colourful cards, trying to choose the perfect one for my friends and cousins.
Sometimes I would spend several minutes reading each message imagining how happy the receiver might feel. Back then, Eid cards were not just greetings, they were small treasures exchanged with excitement.
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These delicate pieces of paper carried more than festive greetings. They were tiny messengers of love, nostalgia and heartfelt connection.
Wrapped in colorful envelopes and adorned with shimmering calligraphy, Eid cards were once a symbol of warmth in an era when emotions travelled by hand rather than by pixels.
There was something magical about choosing the perfect Eid card. Stationery shops across Bangladesh particularly in places like Nilkhet, New Market, Azimpur Eraki Maath and countless roadside stalls would display rows of beautifully crafted cards.
Each one was decorated with intricate patterns, crescent moons and golden decorations.
Some featured pictures of favourite cartoon characters, Barbie princesses, heroes, heroines and popular sports figures.
Prices varied depending on design and quality.
Simpler cards could be bought for as little as Tk5 to Tk10 while premium ones with raised designs, glitter or pop-up elements could cost Tk50 or more.
The excitement of flipping through the cards, feeling their texture and selecting one that best expressed our emotions was a cherished ritual.
Some carried poetic verses while others held simple yet meaningful messages each reflecting the affection of the sender.
Turno, a university student recalling the tradition said, "Receiving an Eid card felt different from a text message. You could hold it, read it again and again and remember the person who sent it."
At times we made our own Eid cards as well. With coloured paper, sketch pens and a little creativity we poured our hearts into handmade designs.
A carefully drawn crescent moon, a heartfelt message in our own handwriting and a personal touch made these creations even more special.
Md Kamruzzaman, a stationery shop owner in Dhaka said, "Before Eid our shops used to be full of children and teenagers buying cards for friends and family. Those days were always busy and joyful."
The joy of making and receiving a handmade card was unmatched as it reflected the effort and sincerity of the giver.
But with the rise of the digital era, Eid cards gradually faded into the background, replaced by instant messages and virtual greetings.
The tradition began to decline in the early 2000s as mobile phones and the internet became more widely accessible.
The touch of embossed paper, the scent of fresh ink and the anticipation of opening an envelope slowly gave way to the swiftness of screens.
Today most people exchange Eid Mubarak wishes through WhatsApp, Facebook status, Messenger and other digital platforms making the once cherished Eid card a rare relic of the past.
Sanjida Sultana, a Dhaka school teacher, reflecting on the change said, "Now greetings arrive instantly on phones but the excitement of waiting for a card in the mailbox is gone."
Yet when a card arrived it was treasured like a keepsake. Many slipped them between book pages or stored them in memory boxes to revisit in quiet moments of nostalgia.
Some who grew up with the tradition still keep old Eid cards safely tucked away preserving the emotions tied to handwritten wishes and intricate designs.
Unlike fleeting digital messages Eid cards carried a sense of permanence. Their journey often required patience as they travelled across cities and sometimes even across borders before reaching loved ones.
Holding a card in hand symbolised the sender's effort and sincerity making distances feel shorter and hearts grow fonder.
Even today traces of the tradition can still be found. Some shops now sell Salami cards or modern Eid greeting cards meant to accompany gift money during Eid.
Occasionally students set up small roadside stalls selling handmade cards hoping to revive the tradition. Yet these scenes are rare and the festive buzz that once surrounded Eid cards is no longer as vibrant as it used to be.
For those who remember, the memory of Eid cards lingers like an old melody. It recalls a time when emotions were written with care rather than typed in haste.
Perhaps by reviving this fading tradition we may rediscover the joy of heartfelt expression where wishes are not simply sent but truly felt and where greetings are not just received but held close just like in the golden days of Eid cards.
