CHICAGO: India and Pakistan seem to have developed a bond in the multicultural atmosphere of Chicago, where Eid has come to remind the natives from South-Asia of how much they truly have in common with each other.
“There may be difference between India and Pakistan on news but come to Chicago to see how we are so connected and united with each other”, said Jamil Khan, a community activist.
Eid in Chicago has a uniquely distinct flavor. It is not only that time of the year when the Muslim community comes together to celebrate with full vigor the month of Ramzan followed by Eid, it is also a time when both Indian and Pakistanis join the festivities together in a desi celebration of their common culture and heritage, their joint love of henna designs, jewelry, ethnic wear, biryani and of course the traditions and beliefs associated with the month of Ramzan.
As the numbers of desis in Chicago have increased over the years, the festivities have gotten bigger and better. The celebrations today are now not only limited just to Muslims. Community leaders from both India and Pakistan confirm that people across faith make it a point to experience the revelry that lasts for a month and culminates in the festival of Eid.
For thousands of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis who are settled in the US, the festival serves as an important reminder for them to recreate the same brotherly spirit that is reminiscent of Ramzan back home.
Mafat Lal Patel one of the founders of Patel Brothers, the best-known desi grocery chain across the US says, “We have not just Indian and Pakistani employees but also Malaysian Muslims who feel equally at ease celebrating the festival with us. Our patrons are from across the communities and we take special care to stock Ramzan specific food like dates and sewayyan. It’s a tradition that we follow and it makes us happy that all our customers feel connected.”
Anyone who has attended the Chand Raat (traditionally the night before Eid, marked by the sighting of the moon) in Chicago’s Devon’s Avenue vouches that the celebrations and the spirit take them back to their native places in India and Pakistan. Jamil Khan says, “In the Devon Avenue area it is not just the Muslim shops and eateries that offer Iftar delicacies but almost every business enterprise runs an Eid special.”
And given the close proximity of the various cultures to each other, the number of joint events has increased, to the extent that even Americans and other nationalities are interested in knowing the culture and tradition behind the festivities. Iftekhar Sharif who recently attended the inter-faith Iftaar party at Muslim Community Center at Morton Grove says, “the event had participation from people across faith and storytellers from Jewish, Christian, Bahai, Hindu and Muslim faith described the significance of fasting in their culture.”
Salman Aftab who is also active in the community says, “With close to 400k Muslims now in Illinois it’s natural to have many and diverse celebrations of the festival. However due to cultural resonance typically Indian, Pakistanis and people from the sub-continent come together to mark the festival.”
Thus in Chicago, with such communal exuberance marking the celebrations, Eid finds its true meaning – to bring people together and celebrate the joys!
