NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck Cultural Council is bringing back the Eid al-Adha Celebration Festival for a second year.
The festival celebrates one of the most important holidays in the Muslim faith. It celebrates the end of Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, and the willingness of the prophet Abraham to sacrifice his firstborn son for God, explained Shagufta Zahid, a member of the council and organizer of the festival.
The festival is Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., on the Green. It will feature booths with traditional clothing, accessories and jewelry, along with henna tattoos and traditional Indian truck art. Live music and dance performances will also take place, and starting at 2 p.m. members of the Muslim community from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey will speak on the importance of Eid al-Adha and the Muslim faith.
“This event is about the celebration of diversity and heritage, focusing one particular community, with the concept and objective of sharing and better understanding among communities,” Zahid said.
The event began last year when Muslims in the borough proposed the festival to the cultural council, Zahid said. The council felt the festival would be in line with its mission and agreed to help make it a reality.
Now that the festival has returned for a second year, Zahid hopes it becomes a borough tradition.
“This is unique opportunity for Naugatuck and different ethnic groups from all over Connecticut to celebrate diversity, to enhance and promote existing celebrations and festivals, and to promote established ethnic pride and heritage among communities,” Zahid said.
