A
grand `Eid extravaganza is being planned by the Muslim Association of Canada
(MAC) for the 300,000-strong Muslim community of Toronto. The day being promoted
as the ultimate celebration for children, family, and friends features a
wide range of activities including competitions, clowns, arts and crafts, and
loot bags for children, rock/wall climbing, basketball tournaments as well as
X-box and Gamecube games tournaments, a gyroscope, a 32-foot super slide,
paintball gallery, bouncing castles, and much more.
“We
wanted to design an `Eid celebration that would be enjoyed by everyone
regardless of age,” said Ahmad Attia, the coordinator of the games and
entertainment committee. The day will be further punctuated by a variety of
shows, movies, a petting zoo, a huge bazaar, and multiple draws for prizes
throughout the day including a 42-inch plasma TV and IPODs among other prizes.
“There
is so much negativity in the media and suffering throughout our Ummah right now,
so we wanted to provide a day of celebration for our community as a way to
remember all the good things which we have been blessed with and to thank Allah
for them” commented Mourad M’hiri, the head of the MAC Toronto chapter.
“We are encouraging everyone to come and bring their families and let us enjoy
the day together,” he remarked.
In
the true spirit of `Eid, MAC is encouraging all attendees to bring canned food
for a canned-food drive. All food will be donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank
of Toronto which assists upwards of 175,000 people in the Toronto area each
month. Baker, the overall coordinator of the `Eid celebrations, noted that this
“is a part of our duty as Muslims and as citizens here in Toronto.”
The
`Eid prayer is scheduled for Thursday, November 3 or Friday, November 4,
depending on the sighting of the moon. The prayer will commence at 10:00 a.m.
The `Eid party will begin right after the prayer. Organizers are still accepting
volunteers and are encouraging anyone willing to help with the `Eid party to
contact them via the Web site. For more information visit http://www.gtaeid.com/
