ASB Showgrounds to Host Auckland Eid Day 2013 for Muslims

ASB Showgrounds to Host Auckland Eid Day 2013 for Muslim Community

Up to 10,000 Muslims are expected to unite at ASB Showgrounds to celebrate the third annual Auckland Eid Day on 9 or 10 August 2013 (lunar dependant), from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Muslims from across Auckland as well as members of the non-Muslim community are all invited to attend the joyous Eid al-Fitr festival. During Eid al-Fitr, Muslims come together in celebration of both spiritual observance through prayer and charity, as well as merriment and achievement marking the end of the 30-day fast through the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Mt. Roskill MP Phil Goff is also expected to join and speak at the festivity along with Labour leader David Shearer. Mayor of Auckland, Len Brown, has also confirmed his attendance.

Coordinated by the Al-Manar Trust, this family-based event aims to bring together the Muslim community of different ethnicities, backgrounds and gender, to unite and enjoy the celebratory spirit of Eid al-Fitr, the first of two major Islamic festivities observed by Muslims worldwide.

“For Muslims, Eid is considered one of the most exciting days on the Islamic calendar, no matter where you are around the world,” said Hady Osman, Auckland Eid Day project manager. “Through Auckland Eid Day, we wanted to give our community an Eid to look forward to and remember right here in Auckland. For the past two years, we’ve been very successful in doing just that and only continue to grow.”

With the intention of providing an environment of celebration for the Auckland Muslim community, Auckland Eid Day will begin with the traditional Eid prayer, followed by a wide variety of games, food stalls, educational displays, and a collection of stage shows presenting diverse cultural performances, buskers and guest speakers which will appeal to all family members from children to adults alike.

“This is going to be the most electrifying Eid with thousands of Muslims praying together and enjoying the day together,” said attendee Haroon Khan on the Auckland Eid Day Facebook event page. “This is a perfect example of how every Muslim should be proactive and come up with their own projects to serve God and the Muslim community,” added Shahd Mahmoud.

Since their launch in 2011, the biannual events have been considered a huge success by organisers and attendees with an attendance of approximately 3,500 people in 2011 and 7,000 in 2012.

The Auckland Eid Day team hopes to continue growing these events to cater to the needs of Muslims across Auckland and to share the Islamic spirit of celebration with the wider Auckland community. As a community initiative, the 2013 festival is also sponsored by the majority of leading Muslim organisations and businesses in Auckland, including Kebabs on Queen, Asma Yoghurt, Imam Halal Meats, Kiwi Lawyers and Shefco.

According to official statistics, there are nearly 40,000 Muslims in New Zealand, the majority in which live in Auckland.

For more information on this biannual initiative, visit Auckland Eid Day’s official website at: www.aucklandeidday.co.nz.

ENDS

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