Montreal’s West Island community celebrates Eid

“Eid Mubarak,” said volunteer coordinator Sheerose Pardhan.

“Bring the community together, that’s what it’s all about,” said participant Kwasi Oieboih.

Montreal’s west island Muslim community is celebrating eid with a festival filled with games, entertainment and food.

“I want the kids to know how special Eid is right, it’s a holiday that’s really special for Muslims but often it goes unnoticed cause it’s not celebrated by everybody so when HILM put this together and they do such a great job, you know bring the kids and want them to know how special it is, it’s time for community, and just to have a really fun day,” said festival-goer Furheen Aahmed.

“Honestly I really was missing this our last eid fest was three years ago so it felt so nice three years later after the pandemic to be able to do this again,” said Pardhan.

The pandemic forced the organizers to hold off on the gathering for three years . Many are elated to be back together at their favourite festival.

“It’s a level of joy that you can’t put words to right just seeing I mean I see someone and I just want to give a hug right away that’s how it is so there’s no words to it I mean we’ve been apart cause of covid a couple of years but now it;s time to get together,” said Oieboih.

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“For me it’s just a celebration where everybody can enjoy themselves everybody gets together and see people that we haven’t seen in such a long time,” said volunteer Yaqoob Hasanay.

The Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha— meaning the festival of sacrifice began on July 9.

“This Eid for Muslims is about sharing like donating not only with your immediate family but with your neighbours and then with people in need and the community at large it’s a huge part of this Eid al-Adha is sharing that’s why it’s important and I want my kids to learn that,” said Aahmed.

“Celebrating the day of eid is always been a big part of it has been family and community definitely we spend a lot of our day with family and Eid Fest you get to see everyone else you get to see your friends there are people that I only see at eid fest and we pick up where we left off,” said Pardhan.

This Eid is the second and final holiday of the Islamic lunar calendar. The community here says the holiday is a time for togetherness and celebration and what better way to gather a community than food and games.

“Big smiles on their faces all kids love bouncy castles and slides and things like that and you know like when Christmas comes and all these other holidays come we part take in those holidays so I love seeing other people part take with us and share with us ,” said Aahmed.

“I’m having fun there’s animals over there that you can touch. I’m having so much fun. There’s Muslims here that are playing in the bouncy castles it’s really cool,” said young Omar.

“Eid Mubarak Masha’Allah!”