As millions of Muslims gather in Mecca, Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Saskatoon’s Muslim community came together Wednesday for one of the most important celebrations in the Islamic calendar — Eid al-Adha. Thousands gathered at Prairieland Park for communal prayers, celebration and reflection, with organizers expecting this to be the city’s largest Eid congregation. Rows of worshippers, young and old, bowed together in prayer while families dressed in vibrant traditional clothing from around the world filled the hall. “We celebrate the Hajj, which is celebrated at the end of the pilgrimage. It’s the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Mecca,” Fatima Coovadia with the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon) told CTV News. Those who follow the faith are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to Mecca in their lives if they are physically and financially able. Eid al-Adha marks the culmination of Hajj and commemorates the story of Prophet Abraham and his family which are figures revered in Islam for their faith, sacrifice, and perseverance. “It’s one of the two biggest celebrations in the Islamic calendar. It’s really special for everyone to be here today to participate,” Coovadia said. Muslims from nearly 70 different countries were represented at the gathering, highlighting the diversity of Saskatoon’s growing Muslim community. “You’ll be able to see people from all sorts of backgrounds and every different walk of life, every corner of the world, a dozen different languages being spoken at the same time,” Syed Mueez Rafiquie said. Events like Eid al-Adha bring together people from many different perspectives and experiences. “It really is beautiful to see that all of these people, different ideologies, different ways of life, different points of view are coming together for something important enough and special enough that they can unite,” he said. This year’s celebration also carried a message of reflection and prayer for people suffering in conflict zones around the world, including Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan. To accommodate the estimated 12,000 people attending at Prairieland Park alone, organizers held two separate prayer services. Traffic management plans were also put in place around the venue due to the large crowds expected. With Saskatoon’s Muslim population continuing to grow, organizers say multiple Eid prayer sites are now needed across the city. “Now there’s so many people that even though we can have up to 10,000-plus here standing at Prairieland, we have to have multiple prayers around the city,” Rafiquie says. After prayers concluded, many families headed home to continue celebrations. “[We] exchange gifts and just spend the day eating food and meeting and greeting and spending family time together,” Coovadia said. For many attending, Eid al-Adha is both a spiritual celebration and a reminder of community, charity, and humanity’s shared connection.
