MANCHESTER, NH – On May 27 hundreds of Muslim residents of Manchester and immigrants from the Greater Manchester area gathered at Gill Stadium to perform Eid al-Adha prayers. After the prayers, they exchanged Eid greetings and celebrated the occasion together.
The celebration, organized by the Islamic Society of NH, was held at Gill Stadium on Valley Street, known as the festival of sacrifice. Eid is a major Islamic festival celebrated a year, a time to celebrate, reflect, and spend time with family and friends.
The celebration was held outdoors at Gill Stadium, in part, due to the lack of capacity at the current Manchester mosque, which is located at a shopping plaza on South Willow Street. During Eid al-Fitr held in March of this year, the prayer service had to be held during three separate time slots because there was not enough space for everyone at once.
A mosque in Manchester, which broke ground in 2007, remains under construction as fundraising efforts continue.
Although many who came together said they were unable to celebrate Eid the way they are used to, due to being far from their homelands, they are still grateful for the security they enjoy in New Hampshire and remain hopeful for a brighter future for their children.
Some immigrants who had come to participate in the Eid prayer Wednesday morning expressed the main differences – that in their homelands, the holiday traditionally includes the gathering of extended family and close friends, and ritual sacrifice to commemorate the prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son.
“Celebrating Eid in migration reminds us of our homeland and our culture, but it is very different from the way we used to celebrate Eid back home,” said one attendee, who identified himself only as Khaibar.
“In our country, the excitement and joy of Eid were much greater. During the Eid days, relatives visited each other’s homes, and different games and activities were held. Children played their own games, while the elders gathered separately. During the sacrifice, everyone stood together and prayed, and various kebabs and traditional foods were prepared from the sacrificial meat,” he said.
The gathering included people from various countries and cultures, all unified by their common faith.
“But here, such opportunities and that warm atmosphere are limited. Today, all our happiness is centered around performing the Eid prayer and meeting people who, as fellow Muslims, exchange Eid greetings after the prayer. After that, everyone returns to their work and daily life, because people here come from different countries and backgrounds,” he said.
Despite being far from their homeland, these feelings and memories show that the culture and traditions of Eid remain alive in the hearts of migrants and are never forgotten.
A similar gathering was held at Greeley Park in Nashua, by the Islamic Society of Greater Nashua.