Re: Chaand Raath in America...
I don't "do" chaand raat. Usually try to stay home, while my friends try to call me up persuading me to go to some melas so we can pick up some future bhabis.
Staying home to pray and make dua and amends, I feel is better than halla gullaing. I mean I used too, until I was thought by learned scholars that the night before the two eids are something which Allah swt holds in high regard. And Keeps the hearts of those alive on the day of judgement, when everyone else's hearts are dead.
keeping this in mind, i try to refrain from going out, and staying home to spend the night in ibaadat.
Ofcourse I get laughed at, they call me a mullah, and usually make a joke of it for days to come, that I wasnt out with them "celebrating"...but in essence, i was celebrating.