Indo-Caribbean American and other Muslims observed Ramadan, a period of daylight fasting, for a month. Ramadan fasting is expected to end Tuesday evening April 9 to be followed by the Eid festival on Wednesday April 10. Guyanese and other Caribbean Muslims in America are gearing up for Eid. Shops are teeming with customers purchasing various items to celebrate the end of the fasting period. Muslim businesses are expected to be closed on Wednesday to celebrate Eid.
Since March 10, Muslim Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers have been observing Ramadan or Ramzan or Rojah, a period of fasting that culminates Tuesday night with the expected sighting of the new crescent moon. Wednesday is Eid ul Fitr, a celebration at the end of the month long daytime fasting period. Eid is a school holiday in New York and parking rules are suspended throughout the city and nearby towns.
Since March 10, most if not all Guyanese Muslims in America and Muslims from other nationalities have been fasting (dawn to dusk avoiding food and water) and attending mosques at dusk to pray and break the fast. Some Muslims attended masjid several (five) times during the day, as prescribed in the holy Koran. Where not possible, they pray at a convenient location to adhere to this pillar of Islam. Muslims fast for spiritual and body renewal during this holy period of sacrifice.
Every Muslim nationality group in New York has its own masjid that attracts fellow nationals (Bangladeshi, Pakistani, India, Moroccan, Saudi, Palestine, Jordanian, Yemenis, Turkish, among others). There are dozens of Masjids around the large city and in other parts of America where Muslims live. Guyanese Muslims have established masjids where they clustered including in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Boston, Minnesota, and elsewhere.
The largest number of Guyanese-oriented masjids are in Queens; there are also Guyanese masjids in Brooklyn and Bronx. There are numerous Guyanese and Trinidad oriented masjids in the greater Richmond Hill (Little Guyana and Little Trinidad) area, and in Jamaica, Queens Village, and in other Guyanese or Caribbean communities where Guyanese or Caribbean Muslims tend to congregate for social activities and worshipping. Every nationality around USA have their own jamaat and Mosques for worshipping. The Al Abidin Masjid is the largest among Guyanese located on 125 and Liberty Ave. Guyanese, like other nationalities, prefer to worship at their own masjid with their customs and practices, and breaking the fast with their cultural diet.
The New York area mosques or masjids were packed nightly during the Ramadan period. Some individuals of other nationalities also come to the Guyanese Masjids for worship, and some Guyanese do worship at mosques of other nationalities, where Guyanese mosques are not available.
Since the start of Ramzan, hundreds have been gathering at each masjid nightly well attired in traditional garb to pray and break their fast by consuming dates, fruits, and solid meals and water, tea, coffee, and soft drinks. Vermicelli was popular as a dessert. There were nightly Iftaar at every masjid and non-Muslims were also invited at some of them. President Irfaan Ali flew in to New York and attended Iftaar or breaking of the fast on April 4 at the Al Abidin Masjid on Liberty Avenue in Little Guyana and Little Trinidad that was packed to capacity. He was flocked by several Guyanese and mobbed for pix taking.
Eid will be celebrated on Wednesday. Streets will be closed to accommodate the large gathering flowing out of Masjids for namaz.
