AN EID LIKE NO OTHER
‘This year is not the year to celebrate the way we used to celebrate’ Eid al-Adha, the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice, mosque director Ali Abdul tells Elizabeth Payne.
For members of Ottawa’s Muslim community, it has been an Eid like no other.
Normally a celebration marked by gift giving, family gatherings and food, as well as prayer, Eid al-Adha has been unusually subdued this year because of the COVID -19 pandemic.
“It is very sad and very quiet,” said Abdulkavir Roble, who marked the holiday quietly at home with his wife and children.
Most people who, like Roble, attend the Ottawa Islamic Centre and Assalam Mosque on St Laurent Boulevard, were not able to attend prayers at the mosque because physical distancing would be impossible.
In past years, up to 4,000 people have attended the mosque for Eid prayers, said manager and director Ali Abdul. It is one of the largest mosques in the city, according to Abdul.
Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is the second of two Eid celebrations in the Muslim calendar and is considered the holier of the two. It takes place over four days, which coincide with the end of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. This year Eid al-Adha began on Thursday evening and ended on Monday evening.
But the COVID-19 pandemic meant many of the usual traditions had to be cancelled.
Roble said when his children were younger, there would be new clothes, gifts and sweets to mark the celebration. Families would often go out to restaurants.
He said it brought tears to his eyes seeing pictures of the dramatically scaled back pilgrimage to Mecca this year.
About 10,000 people attended compared to two million usually.
In Ottawa this year, meanwhile, families are contacting each other by social media instead of in person in order to respect physical distancing, said Abdul.
“We have to be part of the community and fight COVID.”
Currently, only 100 people are allowed inside the mosque which in the past has held 1,000 people, said Abdul. Those who do enter to pray bring their own mats and wear masks.
Abdul said the mosque was able to adapt to the circumstances. It even organized a drive-thru event on Friday in which children and youth were given treats and candies.
“This year is not the year to celebrate the way we used to celebrate,” he said.
Some families held gatherings outdoors in area parks during the weekend when the weather allowed.
But Roble, who is a diabetic and has high blood pressure, said his family opted for a very low key celebration to make sure everyone stayed safe.
“Most people are being very cautious.”