Thousands in London, Ont. come together for Eid al-Fitr
It is a special time for Muslims here at home and around the world, as Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Friends, families and faith leaders in London’s Muslim community gathered at the BMO Centre for prayers and celebration Wednesday.
Hena Mian, her husband Ahmad Mian, along with her mother and their four children were taking in the celebrations.
Hena told CTV News London they moved to London from Mississauga two-and-a-half years ago. It took some time, but they eventually settled in to their new home.
“At first it was very quiet,” explained Hena. “Didn’t know people from our community. But now that we’ve been here a while it feels like we have a pretty good community here.”
For one month Muslims have been fasting from dawn to sunset.
“It’s very special because we fasted for the 30 days, and you reap the rewards after,” said Hena.
The Mian family is seen at BMO Centre in London, Ont. for Eid celebrations on April 10, 2024. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
She continued, “You become closer to your religion and beliefs. Our daughters, they fasted on and off. So it’s something new for them. So they get to celebrate after for all the hard work they did during Ramadan.”
While it is a time for family and celebration, it’s also an opportunity for many to reflect on the heartache here at home and around the world, said Muslim community leader Nawaz Tahir.
“Physically we are here, but our hearts are with our brothers and sisters in Gaza,” he said. “And here in London obviously after the Afzaal family trial, and dealing with all of the emotions that came out of that. It’s still nice to get together as a community, and that’s why really happy to see the big crowd today.”
Eid celebrations begin in London, Ont. on April 10, 2024. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)Several thousand people attended Wednesday’s events, which drew heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic around the Western Fair District.
Both city police and CN Rail police patrolled traffic and managed crowd control.
It was all for an event the whole community embraces, said Muaz Hessen, who took part in prayers at the BMO Centre.
“This is the occasion where all the Muslim community, even not a single person miss this event. That’s why like a lot of people, a lot of community we can see here,” he said.
Eid celebrations begin in London, Ont. on April 10, 2024. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Freeland leaves capital gains tax change out of coming budget implementation bill, here's why
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Ontario woman surprised after 20-year-old fines suddenly tank credit score
An Ontario woman says that she was shocked when provincial fines from 20 years ago suddenly tanked her credit score last week, but the situation may not be as unusual as it seems, according to at least one debt expert.
Anger can harm your blood vessel function, study shows
Stress and anger can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, studies have shown. New research points to just how the mechanism may work.
Avalanche eliminate Winnipeg Jets from playoffs with 6-3 road win
Mikko Rantanen's first two goals of the playoffs propelled the Colorado Avalanche to a 6-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday that clinched their opening-round playoff series in five games.
WATCH Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted filming in Elora, Ont.
The name of the project has not been officially released although it’s widely believed to be the Netflix series FUBAR.
Protesters clash at UCLA after police clear pro-Palestinian demonstrators from Columbia University
Dueling groups of protesters clashed Wednesday at the University of California, Los Angeles, grappling in fistfights and shoving, kicking and using sticks to beat one another. Hours earlier, police carrying riot shields burst into a building at Columbia University that pro-Palestinian protesters took over and broke up a demonstration that had paralyzed the school while inspiring others.
A 98-year-old in Ukraine walked miles to safety from Russians, with slippers and a cane
A 98-year-old woman in Ukraine who escaped Russian-occupied territory by walking almost 10 kilometres (six miles) alone, wearing a pair of slippers and supported by a cane has been reunited with her family days after they were separated while fleeing to safety.
Will an 'out of sight, out of mind' cellphone policy make a difference in Ontario schools?
Ontario’s cellphone ban in schools has been met with mixed reaction, with some teachers concerned about constant policing of kids and experts applauding the change as necessary for student learning.
Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.