North Melbourne community celebrates Eid al-Adha

Hundreds of North Melbourne community members came together on June 22 to celebrate Eid al-Adha, enjoying live music, food, and recreational activities.

Eid al-Adha is known as the Feast of Sacrifice and is the second of the two main Islamic holidays alongside Eid al-Fitr.

The event held at 33 Alfred St, North Melbourne, saw more than 600 people from a range of faiths and cultural backgrounds flock to the park to revel in the festival’s offerings.

It was the third time that the president of the Melbourne Somali Community Incorporated Awil Hussein has run the event, and he said it was a “multicultural hit”.

“It wasn’t just for Muslims. It was for anyone who lived in public housing and even people living in the neighbourhood,” he said.

The kids were provided with gifts and new clothes and entertained by The Venny, which brought its play-based therapeutic support program to Alfred St.

“We wanted people to embrace one another and for the children to have a sense of belonging because this helps with understanding their culture and identity,” Mr Hussein said.

Because the theme behind the festival is sacrifice, Mr Hussein sees it as a “good opportunity” for families to teach young kids about compassion, empathy and giving.

Mr Hussein thanked Eid Event Manager Najma Abdi, Eid Food Officer Ayan Dahir and all the volunteers and attendees who made the day possible.

Looking ahead, Mr Hussein is excited to see the festival continue to grow and bring the North Melbourne community together. •