Eid al-Fitr 2024 Celebrations in Australia: Festivities, Events, and Traditions
Australia is a multicultural country where people from different ethnicities, religions and cultures live together. Australia has a significant Muslim population who celebrate every Islamic festival with great enthusiasm. Living in a city or large town in Australia you may have seen or worked together or befriended a muslim.
For any multicultural society to grow in its highest potential form, it is necessary to nurture each religion and culture and appreciate each other’s values. Eid al-fitr is one the most important festivals for Islam followers around the world. Ramadan is observed in Australia by the Muslim population with fasting and prayer for a month which is essential for Islamic culture and faith.
What is Eid al-fitr and Ramadan?
As per Islamic Hijri Calendar Ramadan is the 9th month which is the Holiest month in Islam. Muslim around the world observe this month with a month-long rigorous fasting, prayer service and reflection for spiritual growth and to show gratitude to Allah. During the month of Ramadan muslims observe daily fasts from dawn to sunset without eating or drinking any kind of food including water. It is believed during this month via fasting physical discipline along with mental adherence and spiritual purification is achieved. Also people become more empathetic towards the less privileged with increased inward reflection.
So after month-long rigorous fasting and discipline people celebrate the ending of the month with the great festival Eid al-fitr. That’s why Eid al-fitr also known as Feast of Fast-Breaking or lesser feast. Eid al-fitr is one of two major festivals of Islam. Major festival is Eid al-Adha or festival of sacrifice. Eid al-fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. Eid marks the ending of Ramadan and beginning of Shawwal months. In the lunar calendar like the Hijri Calendar of Islam one month ends and another starts after the moon sighting. That’s why there is no fixed date for Eid according to the Gregorian calendar.
Every year Eid is celebrated on a different date. Moon sightings can be different for two places on earth that’s why dates for Eid celebrations can be different for two different places. This year Eid will be celebrated according to the moon sighting on 9th or 11th April 2024.
How do people celebrate Eid al-fitr in Australia?
In Australia Eid is not a public holiday. This year Eid coincides with the Hari Raya Puasa which is Eid ul-Fitr in Singapore. Here in Australia Hari Raya Puasa is a public holiday in Christmas Island and Cocos and Keeling Island. Eid is celebrated in Australia among the Muslim community with great pomp. People wake up early and get ready in beautiful dresses with awesome fragrance. They visit nearby mosques for early morning prayer.
Flocks of people gather in some big ground to pray or go to Mosques. Many organisations and businesses change their timings or shut down for the day to celebrate this occasion. You can see great ques and crowds near mosques and in the markets and malls. People go to markets and big events to celebrate and eat delivery food. Many people organise big events and fests for this occasion. People go there with family and friends and enjoy great music, food and artwork. People decorated their houses with Eid themed things and banners and decorative elements. People go out to service and donate. They give clothes, gifts and necessary things to less fortunate people. They feed the poor and give them monetary help.
List of Ramadan and Eid events in Australia:
Event name: Ramadan nights lakemba Sydney New South Wales (NSW)
Date: 9 March – 8 April (every thursday to Sunday)
Location: Lakemba
Timing: 6:00 p.m.- 3:00 a.m.
Details: To mark the festival season the market is decorated with diverse cuisine, entertainment and crafts. To entertain people they have different art forms: dances, music, live concerts, Henna tattooing calligraphy face painting with delicious food.
Event name: Saleem fest X inspiring connections Street iftar Victoria
Date: 17th March
Location: Queen Victoria market
Timing: 7:30 p.m.
A great enthusiasm for Eid and Ramadan can be seen with the mouth-watering meals.
Event name Convert iftar Queensland (QLD)
Date: 16th March
Location: Kuraby mosque
Timing: 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
This is the annual iftar plan by Brisbane Muslim fellowship for your families and friends.
Event name: Community iftar at UnitingCare Kippax Australian capital territory (ACT)
Date: 6 April
Location: UnitingCare Kippax
Timing: 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Conclusion:
To conclude Australia is a multicultural country where every festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and Eid is not the exception. Eid is the second most significant festival after Eid al-Adha for the Muslim around the world. Muslim people decorate their home, make special Eid cuisines and dress in the finest clothes for the festival. Eid marks the ending of the purest month of Ramadan and it holds great significance. In Australia people go to different places, mosques and fairs to celebrate this occasion. Many events and gatherings are organised by the different communities in Australia to celebrate Eid. Eid is the festival of brotherhood and love which embraces a healthy relationship between family and friends and connects people to society as whole.
Also Read:-
Eid ul-Fitr 2024 Celebrations in the UK: Dates, Events, and Festivities