Eid al-Fitr celebrations underway for Windsor's Muslim community

Muslims around the world and in Windsor-Essex are celebrating Eid.

At least 10,000 people are expected to attend two prayer services at Central Park Athletics Friday morning, causing heavy traffic in the area. 

Local imam Yousef Wahb said the religious holiday is a bittersweet day for a few reasons, and he explained what it's all about.

What is Eid?

"We Muslims have two main religious celebrations during the year," said Wahb. "These are the only two main big celebrations, but maybe we have other cultural celebrations."

One is Eid, which is the holiday celebrated right after Ramadan — a month long observance that sees Muslims fast from dawn until dusk each day.

"The other comes after the pilgrimage Muslims do every year to Mecca in Saudi Arabia," said Wahb, describing the Hajj.

"After finishing each, we celebrate the end of the big act of worship that Muslims do."

What does it mean?

Wahb said that Eid is a day of happiness for Muslims that they must share with everyone around them. 

"People wait for Ramadan most of the year. They really wait for the spirit that we have in the month of Ramadan," he said, explaining that people invite each other for dinners nearly every night. 

"The congregations, the late-night prayer, all these things. People really love it. Now, people are so happy for Eid. At the same time, they're sad Ramadan is over, so it's a kind of bittersweet feeling."

There are additional events at the Al-Hijra Mosque on Howard Avenue and at the Rose City Islamic Centre on Empress Street.