Muslims in Flanders and the rest of the world are celebrating the feast of Eid al-Fitr today (Wednesday 10 April). Eid al-Fitr (the Feast Breaking the Fast) is celebrated on the first day following the end of Ramadan. In the Limburg city of Genk local Muslims packed the Limburghal events centre to celebrate what is one of the most important feasts in the Islamic religious calendar.
The Winterslag Mosque on the Noordlaan is too small to accomodate everyone on religious high days such as Eid al-Fitr people. So, for the second year running Genk’s Muslims have organised prayers and celebrations at the Limburghal. However, there too there was hardly enough space to allow all present to pray comfortably.
One of those at Wednesday morning’s Eid al-Fitr celebrations Yousra Talmssou told VRT News that “It’s really nice to be here to celebrate the Feast of Eid al-Fitr, but on the other hand I am sad because Ramadan is a really nice month and now it’s over”.
Around a dozen volunteers were on hand to make sure everybody that needed one was able to find a parking space. Inside there were queue of people waiting to get to their allotted place. All those in attendance brought their own prayer mat. A few reserve mats were on hand though for people that had forgotten to bring their own. “Mine even has a backrest” Abdellatif Ryad joked.
There were a lot of young people at the Limburghal on Wednesday. Sayfeddine Elhoucaed told VRT News that “The hall here is very centrally situated. Here you see people that you don’t usually see at the mosque. For example, friends that live on the other side of Genk.”
“It’s a difference feeling here. Inside it is not really like a mosque. But there would be too many people for us to do it there.”