By Momo Quazi
This year 2 different groups have declared Eid-Ul-Adha in 2 different days . Mosques that follow “ISNA” ,have celebrated the Eid on 21st August and the mosques that follow the “Hilal Committee” ,celebrated the Eid on 22nd August. Most of our Bangladeshi community people living around the Danforth Bangladeshi area have celebrated the Eid on 21st August.
According to the tradition of Bangladesh and Danforth, this year also many people have gathered on the eve of Eid-Ul-Adha like before. There were some henna stalls on the storefronts and the regular stores were also open till midnight for the last minute shopping. All the Bangladeshi restaurants were packed with people who came to Danforth for shopping, grocery, Business, henna and just to celebrate the “Chand Raat” with the community. Many significant people were presented in the crowd.
Canadian published weekly newspaper ”Bangla-mail” and the famous clothing store “Vasavi’s Nahid’s Collection” Have arranged a very exciting “Henna Festival” on 20th August on the Eve of Eid-Ul-Adha or “Chand Raat”. The venue was 3456 Danforth Avenue in, soon to be opened “Gharoa-2” Restaurant.
The entire community was excited about this festival from before because it was the first of its kind. And many significant people has sent their greetings including the Ontario’s premier Doug Ford, citizenship and immigration minister Ahmed Hossain, member of the Parliament Salma Zahid and the member of the parliament Nathanial Erickson Smith.
At around 8.00pm the very first Bangladeshi elected MPP Doly Begum officially declared the opening of the festival by cutting a cake. At that time the organizers gave their respective speeches including “Vasavi’s Nahid’s Collection’s” Nahid Akhter, The business tycoon Gazi Beayat Hossain Mithu, Publicist Rezaul Kabir, “Banglamail” editor Shahidul Islam Mintu, “Deshe-Bideshe” editor Nazrul Islam Mintu. The entire festival was anchored by the very famous Asma Hoque.
The venue was crowded from early evening by henna lovers. Seven henna designers have worked from early evening till midnight and they have designed more than 100 hands. From all over GTA many Bangladeshi people has gathered with their family and enjoyed the festival with the community. Simultaneously all our singers and entertainers have performed for the amazing crowd. Their performances have brought the celebratory vibe to the night. Everyone that is someone was presented at this venue and it has turned into a “piece of Bangladesh”. Everyone present was very happy to celebrate it with their own community. There was a food stall and “Vasavi’s Nahid’s Collection” store was opened for everyone for last minute shopping opportunity.
