TIRANA – Like Muslims around the world Albanians on Sunday began celebrating Eid al-Fitr, a normally festive holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan under more relaxed restrictions which are still in force amidst the fear of renewed coronavirus outbreak.
The three-day holiday is usually a time of travel, family get-togethers and lavish daytime feasts after weeks of dawn-to-dusk fasting. But this year many of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims will have to pray at home and make due with video calls.
As traditionally in Albania, Eid al-Fitr started with the early morning prayer which was followed by celebrations at home. In Tirana the main ceremony took place at the mosque of “Kokonoz” at Pazari i Ri (New Bazaar) led by the chairman of the Muslim Community, Bujar Spahiu.
This year the government didn’t allow Albanian Muslims to pray in the main square ‘Skanderbeg’ and boulevard of Tirana as they always did because of coronavirus measures. Instead, prayers took place only in the mosques of entire Albania.
On Friday night, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that mosques would open for the Eid al-Fitr morning prayer following public pressure by Muslims against keeping mosques closed.
In his congratulatory message to the Muslim believers, Spahiu said on Friday that Eid al-Fitr is the end of the month of Ramadan and it is an invitation to reveal the values gained this month, it is the reward of sacrifice, it is getting closer to God.
“Eid is a day of hope, joy and solidarity, it is the day of manifestation of the values and virtues that Ramadan has reawakened in man, it is the day of giving thanks and the day of love. We experienced this month differently from other Ramadans because we were deprived of joint prayers, and celebrations with loved ones,” said Muslim Community’s Chairman Spahiu.
The ritual of congratulations on this occasion was followed by all Albanian politicians, the ruling ones and those of the opposition.
Starting from Monday mosques and worship places of other religions will open across this Balkan country. /argumentum.al
