This Canada Day I wore a red and white suit. My partner wore a red
and white hijab. The national anthem was playing before the call to prayer. Breaking
the fast at sunset was when dinner was served because it was in Ramadan.
As I child growing up in Guyana I remember
going to the mosque on Eid day with my father. He would fill my pockets with
coins early morning after getting dressed in traditional white kamis. I had the
distinct pleasure of sharing these coins to the beggars who lined the patio of
the mosque. They would spread their hand kerchiefs on the hot concrete. Fast
forward decades and I have organised the second Canada Day Iftar in Toronto,
hoping to raise funds from empathetic fasting Muslims for water projects in Pakistan
and Gaza. Iftar is the meal we partake in while breaking the day-long fast at
sunset, usually seventeen hours in Toronto during summer!
It is such a challenge! Doing a fundraiser
on Canada Day, eh?
idrf.ca/canadaday
Most people want to celebrate Canada Day
during the day, joining the parades or stay at home and watch it on TV, as the
summer and fasting don't go too well for Canadians.
Others realised that this year Canada Day
falls on the most revered day of Ramadan- the 27th or Night of Power. Arrangements
for every prayer were priority.
I had invited the Hon Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but learnt he
will not be in Toronto on the Friday but instead on the Saturday for Pride
Parade. Now my Facebook friends are no longer confirming. That really sucks.
But I did have a sold out event for the second time!
I tried to engage with persons of disabilities
in the Muslim community through one of my supporting partners SMILE and booked
an ASL translator. Last year it was so much fun watching her translate the Hon
Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne's speech.
I am beginning to think of how reverse
this is. Most Canadian functions would add samosa on the entree or halal options
and would easily qualify to being inclusive and diverse. I have to prove my
Ramadan gala is Canadian yet inclusive to many faiths that are attending. I am
happy to make my guests happy although my tight budget with a ticket marked at
cost price doesn’t make life easy. Our event coordinator is phenomenal in
finding discounts and door prizes besides volunteers. It’s coming together with
a best dressed female prize by Tru fashions!
Apart from having Reene the Voice sing the
Canadian Anthem accompanied by Hurban Johnson on Trinidadian steelpan, I had to
make sure the protocol was upheld with the flag. The Hon MP Dr Kristy Duncan,
Minister for Science and Innovation attended, dressed in her extraordinary
shalwar, the type you see at Eid and she graciously shared her time despite Canada
Day demands. She presented two recognition plaques to our volunteers, who
worked tirelessly to coordinate the event and raise funds for the lesser
fortunate. We actually did well with 66 wells and counting!
I must say our MCs were fabulous as I wanted to debunk the myth that
women do not publicly take the stage to MC in Islam. Or co hosts were both a male
and a female and they kept the audience alive with their simmered humor and
effective time keeping as we had to finish by 10 pm. People were anxious to return to their
respective mosques for the night prayers. It happened!
The entertainment for the evening included
both Urdu and English songs. Now this is diversity struggling to get included.
I had a famous singer in the house that sings Indian songs but chose to do a
Ramadan farewell song in Urdu ragas with the steel pan accompanying her - she
is Esther Nazmoon Khan. Renee woke up the crowd with her voice!
The cuisine was indeed matching with the elegant
Elite Banquet Hall- several halal Indian options were served including vegetarian
since we had a diverse attendance.
I didn't want the celebration to be about Muslims
only. Ramadan in many countries is known and supported by Non Muslim neighbours
and relatives like in India, Guyana and Lebanon. So we had Pundit Basil
Maharaj, Rev Alexa Gilmore and Dr Bhante the Budhist Urban Monk present
greetings and messages of hope at the Gala.
As a matter of fact, the highlight of
the evening was the presence of Syrian refugee families, celebrating their
first Canada Day. They are on record with Rogers TV saying in Arabic that they are
thankful and thrilled to be part of such a great country!
The struggles of finding a good speaker
who understands Canada and faith and can ascertain the nexus of water wells in Pakistan
and fresh water reservoirs in Canada is painstakingly challenging. We had the
fortune of having Dr Munir El-Kassem, former Professor at Western Ontario University
and Imam in London, as chief guest and indeed he brought home the loaf! Rather
we all broke bread after with some dates and spring rolls and lots of mango
shake after that generous shake down!
This may be the last Canada Day that falls
in Ramadan but for sure it was a blast while it last!
As Muhammad Ali, the Greatest, my Champ said service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.
