Ottawa-area Muslims prepare to celebrate Eid al-Fitr | Ottawa Citizen
LUKE CARROLL Updated: June 5, 2019
After a month of dawn till dusk fasting, Muslims across Ottawa are celebrating Eid al-Fitr.
The one-day holiday marks the end of Ramadan, a 29 to 30 day fast during daylight hours — the end of which is determined by the new moon.
Sadaf Ebrahim, president of the Canada Pakistan Association of the National Capital Region, hosted a Chand Raat Mela — a celebration of the last day of Ramadan — on Monday evening.
The event was a way to break the final fast with the community. It also served as an opportunity to prepare for the following day, as families could shop for Eid-related supplies. Ebrahim said more than 300 people were in attendance.
There are several activities across Ottawa Tuesday as mosques across the city held early morning prayers.
Janan Arafa, Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians (APAC), said after the prayers, food and socializing are a central to the celebrations.
“You visit friends and family all day, there’s deserts everywhere you go,” she said. “At night you have a big feast.”
APAC will be hosting one of those gatherings, a dinner at the Mandarin Restaurant in Nepean at 7 p.m.. Arafa added the event is open to all.
“We welcome members of all different communities,” Arafa said. “I’m sure a bunch of different kinds of people will be there which is great.”
Arafa said Eid al-Fitr is a holiday meant to bring family and friends together, but she added the end of the fast can often be the best part.
“We get to eat, we’ve been hungry for a month,” she said with a laugh.
Several other festivities will be held across the city, including the Muslim Association of Canada which will be hosting a barbecue and games, 12 p.m. at the Abraar School.
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