Eid Mela, a celebration with all races, religion: Ali

It doesn’t matter whether we come from different religious or ethnic backgrounds, we must treat everyone the same.

These were the words of Masjid Ul Hilal Mosque maulana (head priest) Rameez Riza Ali during the celebration of Eid Mela yesterday.

The celebration at Saweni, Lautoka was attended by about 200 people residing in the Sugar City and Nadi was organised by the Sirajul Islam Trust president, Abu Bakar Sadiq Koya and his team.

The purpose of the celebration was to invite people from the different ethnic backgrounds and other religions to learn more of the Muslim culture and beliefs.

Mr Ali said the celebration was done one month after their fasting period ended.

“Only Muslims celebrate Eid, but we thought of bringing together people from different ethnicities and religions to celebrate with us and at the same time they can learn what our Muslim religion is about, what it teaches us and the reason we celebrate Eid,” he said.

“We do this every year because Fiji is a multiracial country.”

He said the last celebration was in 2019.

“Two years later after COVID-19 we are happy to be celebrating again,” he said.

Photo: Nicolette Chambers Masjid Ul Hilal Mosque head priest, Rameez Riza Ali (first from left) together with the members of the mosque and the women at the Eid Mela celebration at Saweni, Lautoka on May 22, 2022.