Eid Al-Adha Celebrated Across New Zealand

Thousands attended community events organised by the New Zealand Eid Day Trust in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch last weekend to celebrate one of the most important Islamic festivals of the year.

The biggest gathering for Eid Al-Adha took place in Auckland at the Go Media Stadium, where more than 10,000 people attended the event, organisers said.

Eid Al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, a mandatory duty for Muslims that should be fulfilled at least once in their life if they are able to.

The festival falls on the 10th day of the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

It fell on 7 June this year, with festivities extending throughout the weekend.

The celebrations started with morning prayers at mosques across the country.

The festivities in the country's largest city were led by the South Auckland Muslim Association in Otahuhu, Maunatul Islam Trust of New Zealand in Māngere and North Shore Islamic Association in Northcote, among others.

This was followed by an Eid carnival that included food stalls from 35 different ethnicities, ethnic clothing counters, henna art and information kiosks.

Children at the events enjoyed Quran quizzes, bouncy castles, candy floss and face painting.

Javed Dadabhai, chairperson of the New Zealand Eid Day Trust, said Eid Al-Adha was a day for spiritual reflection on which one expresses gratitude for what one was blessed with in life.

"The main message [during the festivities] was centred around sacrifice and having appreciation for what we have [that] correlated very well with what is happening around the world," he said, noting what was currently happening in Gaza.

For those who missed out the festivities in Auckland over the weekend, the North Shore Islamic Association in collaboration with the Kaipatiki Local Board is organising an Eid on the Shore event on 14 June.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Association of Canterbury is organising its Eid Al-Adha feast on the same day in Christchurch.

NZ Eid Day festivities will also be held in Hamilton on 21 June.