Thousands at Hamilton Eid celebration

Members of the Muslim community around the world are celebrating Eid today – and more than ten thousand Muslims came out to pray, reflect, and have a good time in downtown Hamilton.

Eid – also known as Eid ul-Fitr – means ‘the festival of the feast’. It’s called that because members of the Muslim community have been fasting for the month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset for a whole month, and now it’s time to celebrate.

Dozens of Muslims are taking part in a bazaar outside Hamilton City Hall there are part of the festivities – and what great weather there is for that today.
Just across the street at the convention centre, anywhere from 12-15 thousand Muslims will gather to pray, to greet each other and to celebrate. This is the second year that members of Hamilton’s Muslim community have come together at the convention centre to join in the celebration.
According to the Quran, God encourages Muslims to fast during the month of Ramadan – then to celebrate by eating lots of food, seeing family, greeting each other and just having fun.
The celebration lasts for three days.
Video: Cristina Tenaglia reports: