Eid Al-Adha is one of the most important Muslim holidays. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Eid Al-Adha was celebrated in Wellington today for the second year in a row in what some hope is a "cultural shift" towards more appreciation and understanding of Muslim traditions.
Last year's celebration in the capital drew a crowd of around 4000, while this year's - which was on a weekday - drew around 2000.
Eid Al-Adha is known as the 'feast of the sacrifice'. Event spokesperson Amal Alsheemy said the celebration was about bringing people together - and all were welcome.
Many came to celebrate Eid Al-Adha. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Today's Wellington celebration started with prayers, led by Mohamed Zewada the imam of Kilbirnie's Islamic Centre. For kids, the day was a lot of fun.
"We've been running around bouncing on bouncy castles," Safeeyah told RNZ.
For Yasmin testing out VR was the highlight.
"I think everyone would enjoy [the event], even if even if you're not Muslim," Assad said.
Zewada hoped that one day Eid would be would be an official day off "[so we can] enjoy the celebration and the festival with our community for the whole entire day."
Mohamed Zewada, the imam of Kilbirnie's Islamic Centre. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
A cultural shift
For Zewada celebrating Eid in the capital once would not have been imaginable. After 9/11 it was difficult for Muslims to share their identities.
"There was a kind of misconception that all Muslims are terrorists or all Muslims are violent, which was actually not the case."
That attitude has changed.
"After what happened in Christchurch, the society became more aware of Muslims and more aware of their beliefs and their traditions."
He said the deadly mosque attacks in March 2019 marked a breakthrough that allowed Muslims to share their identity with the community.
"And that was actually a very breakthrough for us to kind of step out and, you know, share with the community, our own identity."
For couple Miriam and Ansar whose own families did not believe their relationship would last, it was also a case of surviving the opposition.
"If you love each other and have trust, religion won't come in the way. It's about respecting each other's identity," said Miriam.
