‘Eid’ brings ‘unity’ to the community
About 3000 people marked the end of Ramadan in Christchurch with laughter, good food and entertainment aplenty yesterday, though thoughts were never far from the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The event was held in collaboration with Asturlab and NZ Eid Day for the first time, attracting about 3000 attendees throughout the day.
Event organiser Rami Dawwas said it was about “bringing more unity to the community”, and therefore it became stronger every year.
The festival, one of the biggest events in Muslim culture, was open to everyone as an opportunity to showcase what Muslim culture was all about, Dawwas said.
The event covered the old netball courts at Hagley Park’s multicultural recreation and community centre. Attendees could play with VR headsets, hop on a ferris wheel, other high speed rides and a bouncy castle, and enjoy an assortment of food.
Nora’s Kitchen vendor Azlinor Arshad was selling Asian halal food at the festival, including fried noodles, curry puffs, spring rolls and dumplings.
Last year, there was only 10 or 15 stalls, “but there’s heaps now” thanks to the larger space allotted to the event, Arshad said, and sales were strong.
Asturlab founder Dr Mohammad Abu Dalu said it was a time for children to be happy, families to connect, and good food to be eaten “especially after a month of fasting”. “Its a lovely vibe, lovely environment, and everyone is excited for it – its engraved in our memories.”
However, Abu Dalu noted the community’s “happiness will not be complete without the freedom and without the end of the war on our brothers and sisters and our people in Gaza”.
“It’s really important that we consider them our compass in a way, we feel inspired by what they are doing and looking at how they have managed to find a breeze of happiness during this Eid.”
Abu Dalu pointed to a video of Palestinian children sliding down rubble, finding joy wherever they could during Eid.
“It’s in our fatih, deep in our faith that we must find happiness in this day, despite all the hardship that our world is facing and humanity is facing.”