Happy Eid: join the city's celebrations this Saturday
Bletchley Leisure Centre to host Eid Extravaganza
Depending on the sighting of the moon thousands of Milton Keynes' Muslims will celebrate Eid today or tomorrow.
It marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and has similar significance to Muslims as Christmas does to Christians – with families sharing gifts and spending time together.
It is one of the most important events in the Muslim calender and begins when the first sight of the new moon is seen in the sky.
For Muslims it's a time to think of those who are not so well off and to spend quality time with family and friends.
They will dress in their best clothes and have a special celebratory meal – eaten during daytime, the first daytime meal Muslims will have had in a month.
And there will be a host of events taking place around Milton Keynes to celebrate it, and at mosques in Wolverton, Bletchley's Duncombe Street, Granby and Cranfield.
But the biggest event will bring in a crowd in its thousands.
Organised by the Milton Keynes Muslim Association (MKMA) the Eid Extravaganza will actually take place this Saturday at Bletchley Leisure Centre and is described as a fun family event with a bouncy castle, football game, arts and crafts and other activities all going on.
"It is a chance to see the family again as fasting takes a lot of devotion," said Mohamed Suleman, secretary of the MKMA.
Perhaps one of the most surprising things about Eid Extravaganza is non-Muslims are welcome and encouraged to come, and Mr Suleman said it is an event they want the whole society to be able to feel involved in.
"We want more integration, we don't want it to be a segregated event.
"We want people to learn about our culture. Muslims want to integrate while maintaining our religion."
Mohamed thinks this is possible in Milton Keynes and says people are getting more understanding. Ramadan can be a draining period for Muslims.
During it they can't eat or drink, not even water, during daylight hours.
And Anouar Kassim, chairman of Islamic Arts Heritage and Culture, has voiced a warning that people will need to be more understanding in the next few years as it starts approximately 11 days earlier each year, meaning it will fall more in the summer.
Mr Kassim said: "Work places and schools need to be aware now. The days will be longer and weather hotter, which could make things harder.
"It shouldn't mean I am fasting, I can't do this or do that.
"There is a balance in what you must do in your working life and spiritual beliefs, but it is something to think about."
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
