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Thousands of Ottawa-area Muslims gathered at the EY Centre on Wednesday to celebrate the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the Islamic festival marking the end of the month of Ramadan.
Throughout the month, Muslims are supposed to focus on strengthening their relationship with God through fasting, prayers, acts of charity and self-improvement.
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“The usually joyous occasion of Eid was overshadowed by somber reflections this year, as the devastating events unfolding in Gaza weighed heavily on the hearts of many,” the Muslim Association of Canada said in a press release.
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“Eid prayer and festival will be offered with heavy hearts and to maintain a semblance of normalcy and serve as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for compassion and solidarity in the face of human tragedy in Gaza. This year’s theme will be One Ummah in solidarity with Gaza.
The Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 has prompted continued attacks on Gaza for the past six months. Over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 13,000 children.
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