Muslims stand proud Story
Muslims stood proud in Palmerston North at the weekend as they opened the doors to all to share in their Eid Adha celebrations.
More than 2000 people came through the doors at the Central Energy Trust Arena on Saturday to join in the fun and entertainment.
Manawatu¯ Multicultural Council president Rana Naser said instead of choosing to keep the festival private, the region’s Muslims wanted the wider community to see and understand what made them different, yet the same. ‘‘And we are teaching our young people not to be shy, but to be proud of who they are.’’
In that spirit, 14-year-old Ayah Kayed, from Palmerston North Girls’ High School, spoke about her decision to cover her head and be true to her faith.
Her parents are from Palestine and she has lived all her life in the city.
Many of the performances on the day were a foreign language to her and that was part of what she hoped people would come to understand. ‘‘We come from all different cultures. Islam is our religion, not a culture. Islam is for anyone. It does not belong to one cultural group or country. And underneath, we are just people, like everyone.’’
The festival began with a Quran recitation and speeches, with a line-up of cultural performances from Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and a screening of Eid Adha celebrations around the world.
Eid Adha commemorates the end of the Hajj, an annual pilgrimage by millions of Muslims to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.