Ottawa Muslim community celebrates end of Ramadan at EY Centre on Wednesday

Ottawa Muslims gather to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan on April 10, 2024. (Tyler Fleming/CTV News Ottawa)

Members of Ottawa's Muslim community are celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Hundreds showed up to the EY Centre for an Eid celebration organized by the Muslim Association of Canada for prayers, shows, food and a bazaar.

The event will run until 6 p.m.

"This year's theme is one ummah, one Nation. The Muslim community around the world, it's one community, irrespective of what country you come from, irrespective of what is your culture," said Tarek Houssari, with the Muslim Association of Canada.

"We chose that theme in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Gaza and the devastation that they're going through. Normally, [Eid Al-Fitr] is a joyous occasion and we like to celebrate, but this time, what is happening in the Middle East weighs heavily on the hearts and minds of the Muslim community."

This year, the event is featuring a country exhibit from 14 different countries. Each country is coming to represent their culture.

"We the Muslim community come from different cultures, different backgrounds, different ethnicities," said Houssari. "Islam unites us all under one big umbrella."

After the Ramadan month of fasting, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr with feasts and family visits.

As the Islamic calendar is based around the lunar cycle, the holy month of Ramadan rotates by approximately ten days each year. In Ottawa, Ramadan began on March 10 and ended on April 9. The start date depends largely on the sighting of the moon, which varies according to geographic location.

Healthy adult Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan from dawn until dusk.

Islam's holidays follow a lunar calendar, but some rely on astronomical calculations rather than physical sightings.

Other acts of worship such as prayer, reading the Quran and charity are also encouraged during the holy month.

With files from the Associated Press and CTV News Ottawa's Tyler Fleming