After 30 days of fasting for Ramadan, Muslims around the world gathered for Eid prayer, including residents of the Santa Clarita Valley who added family-oriented celebratory elements to the occasion.
Indulging in coffee and doughnuts at the Santa Clarita Activities Center Friday morning, Muslims affiliated with local mosques, including The Unity Center of Santa Clarita and Al-Umma Center, greeted each other as the month-long observance came to an end for the year.
Not only was there a photo booth available for families to enjoy, but also a newly implemented “Eid Kids Fun Zone.”
“Typically we have two prayer times, and everyone goes out and eats the refreshments and greets each other. What has happened in the past is people go about their own day and continue their plans on their own,” said Labiba Syeed, a volunteer coordinator for the event. “This year, we decided that we’re going to have an agenda for a good chunk of the morning, leading into the afternoon, specifically aimed towards providing kids a joyful, safe experience that supports the prayer flow and provides a memorable event for the families that are in the community.”
Coordinating efforts for weeks with other members of the community, the women included activities for not only children, but also for families to enjoy.
“We set up at 6 a.m., and we had to be done by 7. The first prayer was at 7:30, so that’s when the first wave came in. The second wave came in at 9:45 a.m. We have a clown who is face painting and making balloon animals. We also have a magic show. We’re making sure that there’s seating for the kids, and that we also have toys to distribute once everyone sticks around.”
While more efforts have been taken during tiresome fasting days to plan the event leading up to Friday’s early prayer, the incentive was worth it to Syeed.
“We wanted to make sure that we could open this up for the kids, and they can make some memories, and have something to look forward to, as well. This is something that we’re hoping we can implement in future years. We also want to get the youth and young adults and encourage activities for them. Everyone is welcome to watch the shows. I’m pumped to see the magic show, too,” Syeed said.
Experiencing Ramadan firsthand in Santa Clarita growing up, Syeed knows how challenging it can be to have celebrations with other obligations in the way.
“Growing up here, I feel like we can be disconnected from celebrating these things because it’s not incorporated in American culture. We try to integrate our lives, go to nightly prayers, do the fasts, but our day-to-day lives don’t stop or switch up when this time comes. We’re hoping that although these things can’t be changed overnight, we’re planting the seeds for the future generations. Despite not having that culture here embedded, we’re making it ourselves. We make it our own, and make it accessible for all.”
Mother and daughter Aisha and Shabana Poswal, long-time residents who have also experienced Ramadan and Eid in Santa Clarita over the years, acknowledged how important coming together for the next generation is.
“We are excited to have an Eid Kids program this year because making this day special for the children is a big priority. Volunteers in the community wrapped about 300 toys to pass out to children of all ages at the Eid prayer,” Aisha said. “Our goal is to make this day memorable for everyone — especially for the children. This is a special day for us where our communities can come together for celebration and can meet with friends and family.”
“We are lucky to have so many people in the community step up to make the event a success, and honestly, the activities would not have been possible without the help of everyone coming together. We received so many donations of toys and money to put towards the event, and volunteers have dedicated a lot of their time behind the scenes to help plan and prepare for the day,” Shabana added. “Eid is a day for the Muslim community to come together as one, and this event really shows how well we’ve done at that.”
