Eid-al-Fitr is one of the 2 major Islamic holidays celebrating the close of the month of Ramadan. It translates to “the festival of breaking the fast” and celebrates the 29-30 days of dry fasting Muslims observe for a month, abstaining from food and beverage from dawn to sunset.
For Bostonians looking to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr, local mosques will hold private events on Friday, April 21 such as a celebratory Eid prayer in addition to kids’ activities, special meals, and many charitable opportunities. Next week, on April 28, Boston will have its first-ever citywide Eid-al-Fitr Boston celebration taking place outside of a traditional mosque setting. It’s a very exciting event for the Muslim community in Boston and surrounding neighborhoods.
The free event will be held at the Massachusetts State House and hosted by the Jetpac Resource Center. The Cambridge-based non-profit strives to bridge the gap in representation and inclusion. Founded in 2015 by Cambridge City Council elect, Nadeem Mazen, Jetpac stands for Justice Education Technology Political Advocacy Center, and stands to employ grassroots mibilization to empower community memebers to get involved in politics and provides the resources and infrastructure for underserved communities and youth to do so.
The first-of-its-kind celebration welcomes several guest speakers, slotted time for the Jumuah (Friday) prayer, and a lunch to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr. Hosts and speakers will kick off the event with team members from Jetpac, CAIR- Council on American-Islamic Relations, Muslim American Society of Massachusetts, Muslim Americans in Public Service, the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center, and the Islamic Council of New England.
The inaugural bruncheon will then follow with a special khutbah, a Friday service sermon, delivered by Harvard’s Imam Dr. Khalil Abdur-Rashid, the university’s first full-time Muslim Chaplain. The event concludes with a lunch and social time for Muslims from all over New England to celebrate the close of Ramadan and connect at this free event!
Find it at Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street
Friday April 28 from 12-3 PM