Biggest Eastern Cape celebration of Eid al-Fitr to be held in Malabar
This week will round out the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and mark the start of celebrations across Gqeberha and the globe as millions of Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr.
In the Friendly City, the Islamic community will celebrate the religious holiday at various venues, but the biggest and oldest gathering will take place in Malabar at an open-air prayer site in Bramlin Street.
Dar Al Natheer NPO chair Shiekh Waseeullah Desai said Eid al-Fitr was one of two major holidays, the other being Eid al-Adha, and would be celebrated either tomorrow or Thursday morning after the first sighting of the crescent moon.
“Eid al-Fitr is a day on which we give thanks to the Almighty Allah for the many blessings he has bestowed on us and to thank Him for keeping us obedient during Ramadan,” Desai said.
“It is celebrated with an open-air prayer service before we share a big meal with family and friends as well as the broader community to commemorate and symbolise the end of the 30 days of fasting.
“According to our research and previous statistics, the first sighting [of the crescent moon] will most likely occur on Wednesday, so the service will be Thursday morning, but we will have to wait and see.”
Desai said the open-air service was the biggest of its kind in the province, attracting between 7,000 and 9,000 Muslims.
The historic event was started by his father and founder of the NPO, Moulana Nazeer Desai, in 1992 with about 350-500 people in attendance.
“The first event took place in the height of apartheid and was quite unfamiliar to the authorities at the time, so my dad was forced to seek permission for the first service from the courts.
“According to our teachings, the prayer should be held in the open air and not indoors.
“Since the initial gathering, it has grown exponentially.”
He said motorists using the street for their morning commute were advised to use alternative routes.
“We are pleading with the public to be patient and mindful of the celebration.
“The prayer service will start at 7am but the road will be busy between 6.30am and 8am.
“The event has been authorised by the relative role players, and will see traffic and other officials on site to assist,” Desai said.