Muslims Mark End Of Ramadan At Eid Celebration In Bridgeview
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (CBS) -- Amid turmoil across the Middle East, Chicago area Muslims jammed the field at Toyota Park in Bridgeview on Monday, to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports Eid is normally a joyous holiday, marking the end of a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting and introspection. One man called it the Islamic equivalent of Christmas, but many at the Eid celebration in Bridgeview said the mood was more somber this year, amid violence in Gaza, Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere in the Muslim world.
One man, originally from Jordan, now lives in Burbank.
"We pray that this Eid will bring joy to us over here, and to all the people over there, and will bring peace to Gaza, to Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya; all these countries. They deserve better," he said.
One woman came all the way from Cleveland to be at the celebration in Bridgeview.
"We heard about how beautiful the Eid is here, so we wanted to come and enjoy the big group," she said.
Though it's normally a joyous holiday, and a way of "feeling one with God," this year's tone is more subdued.
"Our hearts are breaking for the people of Gaza, Syria, Iran, Iraq, everywhere," she said. "All of the Middle East."
Many dressed in the garb of their homelands. Most of the women donned hijabs; some wore burqas and chadors. Some of the men wore keffiyehs.