Eid celebrated by Guyanese in NY
Dear Editor, Eid was happily celebrated by Guyanese Muslims across the New York metro area on Friday bringing the monthlong fasting period (dawn to dusk) of Ramadan to a close.
On Thursday evening large numbers of Muslims (attired in Islamic wear) were seen going to Masjids to break the nightly fast for the final evening of prayers before Eid-Ul-Fitr which is observed with the sighting of the new moon.
On Friday morning, Muslims, dressed in traditional colourful garb and head wear, were seen heading to Masjids to offer salah or prayers and celebrate the end of the month of fasting called Rojah in the Indo-Caribbean diaspora. Males were dressed in white and females in varied colours.
Following prayers on Friday morning, there was much euphoria and fervour and laughter along with feasting on sweets and other snacks including sawine or vermicelli, gulab jamun, mithai, etc.
Charitable contributions or zakats were given to the less fortunate, imams (meijis or mulvis) and to Masjids (mosques). Boxes were placed in front of the gathering for zakats with worshippers giving generously. Tents were constructed outside of masjids to accommodate the large gathering. Celebrants embraced each other and offer “Eid Mubarak” greetings.
Eid is accorded city recognition with cancellation of parking regulations for Thursday and Friday.
On the daily morning TV programme with Pradeep Kumar, Qawalis, qaseedas, and Islamic songs were aired daily during Rojah and on Eid. The West Indian radio Station, WICR, with Robert Mohammed, also broadcasted Bollywood Islamic religious songs throughout Eid.