by Munema Moiz

[mks_dropcap style=”square” size=”52″ bg_color=”#ba3c5b” txt_color=”#ffffff”]E[/mks_dropcap]id was celebrated in a unique way in Milton this year. Nargis Naqvi and her husband, Kamran Siddiqui, set up a driveway get-together under their canopy to celebrate the religious festival with their entire street in Milton. Food, coffee, desserts, and henna were available to help neighbours enjoy the fun of Eid and to get to know one another. Aided by a few other Muslim neighbours, they decided they did not want to celebrate Eid without including all of their neighbours, regardless of religion and ethnicity.

            Eid ul Fitr is a festival celebrated by Muslims every year to mark the end of Ramadan, a month in which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk everyday. Muslims believe that Ramadan is the holy month that the Quran, their holy book, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Millions of Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid every year, and this year some homes on Tuxford Drive decided to give the religious event a Canadian multicultural spin.

            “I have lived in Milton for four years and still didn’t know my neighbours,” Naqvi said. “So I decided to combine my joy during Eid with my desire to get to know the people I live with. In Islam, taking care of your neighbours is a religious duty and I felt that I needed to practice it this year!”

            Around 30 people responded to the flyers and attended the two hour long event. Many of them expressed their gratitude at organizing a neighbourly get together, as it can be hard to get to know your neighbours in a growing community like Milton. Kids played tag and ate Pakistani desserts while their parents learned more about Eid , Islam, and one another over Arabic coffee and dates. There was also henna available, with numerous women getting traditional floral designs inked onto their hands. Chicken tikka, samosas and cupcakes with kids eating freezies after freezie in the hot weather made the event festive. Gift bags were handed out at the end to all of the families, who vowed to stay in touch.

            “I think it was a great success,” Robena, who lives across the street, said. “It was a really fun way to get to know everybody and made Eid a lot more special.” The couple and their neighbours intend to host a neighbours’ BBQ for the next Eid and people on the street have promised to come.

            “The idea took shape within a few days by Robena and Shazia, my friends and neighbours, helping out at such short notice with donating food and gifts for everyone.” Naqvi said, relieved of a successful event.

This is definitely the start of an Eid tradition that will open doors between communities and people.