NZ Eid Day’s first Iftar event a massive success

What counts as a success of an event is the positive experience that visitors carry at the end of the event.

NZ Eid Day hosted its first open iftar event for the community on Monday, June 4, that coincided with the Queen’s Birthday holiday and it was a big success for the organisers.

More than 300 people turned up for the iftar event at Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall on Monday defying the rainy and windy weather in the city.

Visitors at NZ Eid Day iftar event at Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall (Picture: NZ Eid Day)

“We made arrangements for around 300 people, and though it rained all day, the hall was full with eager community members to have the iftar like one big family,” Javed Dadabhai, Chairperson of NZ Eid Day Trust told The Indian Weekender.

Iftar is an integral part of the fasting exercise when individuals open their fast by having food with family and friends. The essence of iftar comes when a person observing fast sits together with other individuals on one table sharing the meal, like a family.

“A fantastic idea to have iftar as one big family! We don't have any more family here so being with everyone in our community for iftar felt really heartwarming! Jazakom Allahu Khair,” mentioned an individual Mary Mohammad on NZ Eid Day social media page after the iftar event.

The iftar hall was divided into three sections, one side tables for the men and the other side tables for the women and the centre space where families sat with on a carpet with their children, in traditional home-style dining.

Volunteers from the community came forward to organise the event and served different delicacies to the visitors. The menu for iftar included fruits starting with dates, bread, vegetarian curry, salad, rice pulao and chicken curry along with beverages.

“The idea to host this event was to get the community members, irrespective of their religion and ethnicity to come together and share a meal at the auspicious time of iftar. At the end of the event, people were delighted with the arrangement and asked us to host such events at regular intervals, so it strengthens the bond between the communities,” Javed Dadabhai added.

NZ Eid Day will host Eid event at the Eden Park Stadium Hall followed by a carnival of food and fun for the families at the venue. Eid will fall either on Friday, June 15 or Saturday, June 16, depending on the sighting of the moon and the prayers will start sharp at 9 a.m.