The banner over the henna booth at the event in Kings Court reads “Eid Mubarak,” meaning “blessed festival” or “happy festival.”
The borough has made an effort to focus its events on the heritages and cultures represented by all of its residents, most recently with a celebration of Eid ul-Adha, the second Eid hoiday in Islam.
The event was organized and sponsored by the borough’s Human Relations Commission (HRC) and the Haddonfield Education Association (HEA). Eid ul-Adha is known as the “festival of sacrifice,” commemorating the prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son on the orders of his god. (The first Eid holiday, Eid ul-Fitr, is held at the end of Ramadan.)
Nousheen Sadiq is on Haddonfield’s board of education and is its first Muslim member.
“It’s a time for renewal, the time that leads up to the holiday,” Sadiq explained of Eid ul-Adha. “We are supposed to be more mindful about how we are acting in our daily lives, how charitable we are, how forgiving we are … It culminates into the holiday where you celebrate a renewal of yourself.”
The holiday also coincides with the conclusion of the Hajj – or pilgrimage to Mecca – and symbolizes devotion and sharing with those in need.
Held in Kings Court, the Eid ul-Adha celebration featured a number of activities significant to Islam and the cultures of the Middle East.
Stacey Brown-Downham is a member of HEA and was one of the organizers of the event.
“I’m trying to represent as many different cultural backgrounds as possible …” she noted. “I wanted to make sure to be inclusive of the Muslim faith.”
The HEA is able to fund the Eid celebration and other events like it through grant money and education association union dues that go back to the community.
Two artists were present at a Kings Court booth to create henna tattoos made with a reddish dye from the dried leaves of henna trees. Inkwood Books set up a table with several piles of free children’s books featuring Muslim characters and holidays.
Food came from the Haddon Township’s Jersey Kebab, and beverages from Euphrates Coffee and Chai. Both businesses are Muslim owned.
“We love to be able to support small businesses through this, especially businesses owned by those from diverse backgrounds,” Brown-Downham said.
Large posters were set up around Kings Court to highlight the contributions of Muslim historical figures in medicine, astronomy, math and engineering. Another table offered a crafting station with wooden cut-outs of a crescent with a star, one of the symbols of Islam.
“We’ve been trying to do events this year in partnership with a lot of the existing organizations, rather than trying to start from scratch and recreate the wheel,” explained HRC member Jen Sheran, another organizer of the Eid event. “So the education association has been an incredible partner.”
Sadiq helped the HEA and HRC write descriptions of the celebration and solicit food and crafts that would represent the Eid culture.
“I think that’s the beauty of having a center of town like Kings Court,” Sadiq observed. “And I’m just really pleased and very grateful that we have such wonderful and thoughtful people in these organizations who use their time and their funds and their creativity to bring more light and attention to these types of celebrations and culture that people may not be aware of.”
