As the holy month of Ramadan comes to a close, Muslims around the world gear up to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, a religious holiday that marks the end of fasting and is considered one of the most important celebrations in the Islamic calendar. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many Muslim communities are finding creative ways to come together and observe the occasion safely. In this article, we take a closer look at this year’s Eid celebrations and examine how Muslims are celebrating across the globe.
Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the month-long fasting period of Ramadan. It is a time for family gatherings, feasting and prayers. The celebration is marked by the sighting of the crescent moon, which announces the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of the Shawwal month.
Across the world, Muslims have been celebrating with different traditions and customs. In Belfast, Northern Ireland, more than 2,000 people attended a special Eid event at a local stadium. The event was organised by the Belfast Islamic Centre and was aimed at bringing people of all faiths together to celebrate the end of Ramadan. The centre said the event created “an amazing atmosphere” for the Muslim community.
In Lakemba, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, the local mosque was at the heart of the celebrations. Lakemba Mosque, also known as Masjid Al Noor, is one of the largest mosques in Australia and attracts thousands of worshippers on Eid al-Fitr. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the mosque had limited capacity, but still managed to host several prayer sessions. The streets around the mosque were filled with people enjoying the festivities.
In Palestine, the celebration was marked with difficulty. The ongoing conflicts and political unrest in the region have made it challenging for Palestinians to enjoy the festivities. Despite this, many Palestinians still gathered in the streets and in their homes to mark the occasion. In the Gaza Strip, many families struggled to buy traditional sweets and clothes for their children as a result of the ongoing economic crisis.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists used the occasion to highlight the effects of climate change on Muslim communities. The group staged a protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, urging the government to take more action to tackle climate change.
The celebrations were not just limited to Muslim-majority countries. Many countries with significant Muslim populations, such as India and the United States, also marked the occasion. In India, Muslims in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar celebrated with traditional feasts and prayers, while in the United States, Eid al-Fitr was marked with prayers, family gatherings and feasting.
Overall, Eid al-Fitr is a joyous occasion for Muslims around the world. Although the celebrations may differ depending on the country and culture, the message remains the same – to come together as a community and celebrate the end of a blessed month of fasting and prayer. Despite the challenges faced by many in different parts of the world, the spirit of Eid al-Fitr remains strong.
