A COMMUNITY celebration of Eid returned to Southampton after a two-year break.
Southampton’s Festival of Eid was welcomed back with open arms following delays due to Covid.
The event in Hoglands Park saw residents and visitors celebrate Eid al-Adha on Saturday, July 23.
It boasted a large range of stalls, food, and fun entertainment for children, which included bouncy castles, rides, games, and more.
Organiser Sheba Choudhury said she loves “the community coming together.”
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The 40-year-old said: “This is our fifth year. Southampton’s Festival of Eid started in 2016 and it is something I always wanted to do.
“My main reason for doing this is because I love the community coming together. It shows people what Eid is all about and means they can celebrate the festival.”
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There are two Eids celebrated each year in the Islamic calendar.
The first is the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which is also known as the festival of breaking fast.
It is typically celebrated at the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan.
The second Eid, Eid al-Adha, known as the “festival of sacrifice,” is marked around two months later at the same time when many Muslims perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
Sheba added: “We wanted to open this celebration up to the community and support local businesses as well.
“It’s about keeping the community together and supporting the smaller businesses and for people to spend the day having fun.”
Rhea Smith was visiting Southampton with her four children when she discovered the festival.
The 26-year-old from Havant said: “We came for the High Score Arcade and we found this event along the way.
“It’s great and it is a lot of fun. You can see a lot of effort has been put into it.
“It’s great having events like this.”
Habibur Rahman, 42, travelled from Portsmouth with his two children for the event.
He said: “There’s enough for us to do all within reach.
“Having events like this are very important indeed. It brings the community together.”
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