Eid Mubarak! Eid Ambarki Ighudan!
EID MUBARAK!! May your lives be filled with joy, happiness, love, peace!!!
This year Ramadan was very different/difficult being physically distanced from loved ones due to corona.
My Eid Design is inspired by the Islamic Center of NYU & Hindu Temples from watching services online due to the pandemic. The Islamic Center at NYU is a very special place of knowledge, love, understanding they welcome everyone into their community regardless of their religion.
It has been difficult for me this Ramadan being away from my brothers & sister (Imam Khalid, Sheikh Faiyaz, Hafiz Afraz, Sheikha Amina) and watching them online, I miss seeing them in person and hearing their voices. I have broken down in tears many times.
Ramadan concludes with morning Eid Prayers outside in Washington Square Park which is so special and absolute magic. Though I’m the Hindu Chaplain for NYU, my brothers have always included me in Eid prayers, I have celebrated with the Islamic Center any times.
The Golden Arch inspired by Washington Square Arch, but drawn as a Thiruvachi in Tamil/Prabhavali in Sanskrit, ornamental/decorative pillars found in Hindu temples representing a ring of light (Noor in Islam)/the endless greatness of the divine. Gold symbolizes knowledge, learning, meditation. All lessons to be learnt during Ramadan. The lion head represents a reminder to surrender our ego to the divine. Islam means surrender or submission to God. Peacocks represent beauty/knowledge & the all seeing/knowing divine in Hinduism, their feathers used as bookmarks for the Holy Quran in many cultures.
Eid Mubarak written on top in Arabic, & Eid Ambarki Ighudan in Tamazight language for my Moroccan family- we might be physically apart (but always there for me) & connected through our hearts/whatsapp.
EID MUBARAK!! May we all meet in person soon Inshallah!
A caption from GAMA ( Gathering All Muslim Artists) Below :
Eid Mubarak!
We wanted to share a beautiful design by GAMA community artist Sangeetha Kowsik @ihsanishandesign.
As many in the New York community are surely feeling today, we are missing being together for Eid prayers under the Washington Square Park arch led by @icnyu_official @imamklatif @suhaib.webb, and all the hugs, food and photos that follow.
May Allah guide us through the challenges of #covid_19 and give healing and provision to all who have been afflicted. We appreciate Sangeetha for capturing all the feels of this moment in her piece!
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#eidmubarak #eid2020 #eidalfitr #icnyu
