– It’s great fun to be here today, says Amalie (8).
She is one of around 2,000 people who gathered in Haukelandshallen in Bergen, on the last day of Ramadan for the ID celebration.
During prayer, the women stood on one side, and the men on the other.
Over 2,000 people gathered for the ID celebration in Haukelandshallen in Bergen.
Photo: Mariann Reikerås / Mariann Reikerås
Painting hands with henna can be a decoration for ID.
Photo: Mariann Reikerås / NRK
– What’s fun?
– To ask. I have been given candy, there is no gelatin in it, because I cannot tolerate gelatin, says Amalie.
She explains that she has put on fine clothes. She does not want to eat the candy right away, but would rather save it until she is going to a friend’s house.
– Because on ID, I visit people, says Amalie.
submit di id greeting to NRK her.
This is id al-fitr
Expand/minimize fact box
- Id al-Fitr is one of the two annual holidays celebrated by the entire Islamic community. The second is the Feast of Sacrifice, id al-adha.
- Id al-Fitr, the “festival of breaking the fast”, is a festival celebrated by Muslims to mark the end of fasting.
- The party begins with a ritual communal prayer and sermon (khutba) in the mosque. Those who celebrate like to dress in festive clothes, and adults and children give and receive gifts. It is common to visit family and friends or send ID greetings.
- In connection with the party, a mandatory fee (zakat al-fitr) is paid for each family member. The fee will go to those in need and is an expression of the solidarity of those threatened. This must not be confused with zakat, one of Islam’s five pillars, which is the religious tax paid from the surplus of annually saved funds.
- In Muslim countries, the Eid celebration affects the whole society, and there are large public parties and celebrations in addition to the religious celebrations in the mosques and gatherings in private homes.
- In Norway, many Muslims have preserved various traditions from their family’s country of origin. At the same time, new traditions have emerged that reflect Norwegian culture. An example is the so-called Ramadan calendar for children, with slots or small gifts for each day of Ramadan.
Source: Large Norwegian encyclopedia
Sajjid Younas has a hard time serving pita bread to over 100 Norwegian-Pakistani people at the id party in Festerhuset in Kjøkkelvik.
Photo: John Inge Johansen / NRK
– Easier to be a Muslim
At the assembly hall Festerhuset in Kjøkkelvik in Bergen, Sajjid Younas is fully occupied with making pita bread.
On this day, over 100 of the approximately 250 Pakistanis in Bergen have gathered here to celebrate
Younas is the leader of the organization Pakistani Welfare Bergen. He has lived in Norway for 29 years.
– In these years, I have noticed that it has become easier to be a Muslim in Norway.
His grown children are the third generation of Norwegian-Pakistani, born and raised in Norway.
– They are mainly Norwegian culturally, but religiously Muslim. That probably makes it easier for many to live here.
He also mentions that a pleasant sign is that Ramadan candles and decorations are sold in many ordinary shops.
– Ramadan and id get a much greater focus in Norwegian society than a few years ago, says Younas.
– First and foremost, the children’s day
In Oslo, extra security measures have been put in place following threats, but that still does not stop the celebrations. Neighbors in Oslo circle the mosques. This year, Oslo has also been decorated for Ramadan for the first time.
There are over 1,200 people gathered in the Ahmadiyya mosque at Furuset in Oslo.
– I think this is a happy day for all Muslims, and especially the lucky Muslims who have the opportunity to celebrate this day, says Naghman Anwar. He is in the mosque at Furuset in Oslo.
Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / NRK
– During the day, it’s mostly about getting together with the family and being able to have fun with them, and eating good food together, says Usama Rama.
Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / NRK
– It is of course very big, after a long month. It’s been 30 days of fasting, and now it’s finally ID, so everyone is looking forward to it. It is a big day, says Talha Khan.
Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / NRK
Imam Musawer Ahmed Shahid in the Ahmadiyya mosque at Furuset in Oslo.
Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / NRK
Id is first and foremost the children’s day, underlines imam Musawer Ahmed Shahid. It is a day marked by good food, gifts and festively decorated family.
– Almost like on Christmas Eve. Many also travel to the cemetery, he says.
There are many ways to celebrate. Some play games together, others go out on the town. Most people gather with their families for good food and celebration.
– But we must also think of God and human rights when we celebrate, says the imam.
Id is also a day for reflection. After breakfast, most go to prayer.
– Muslims have gone through a training period during Ramadan. This is to become a better person, to get closer to one’s God. That is what we celebrate today, says the imam.
Prayer in the Amahdiyya mosque at Furuset in Oslo under id.
Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / NRK
Over 1,500 people gathered in the Amahdiyya mosque at Furuset in Oslo.
Photo: Zhilwan Manbari / NRK
Prayer is an important part of the ID celebration.
Photo: Zhilwan Manbari / NRK
Gifts and food
– I am very happy to receive gifts and eat good food, says Nour Alhmmud (12).
Nour Alhmmud is at an id party in a full house at Moa in Ålesund.
Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / NRK
He is one of the around 500 who had turned up to take part in the celebration at Moa in Ålesund.
The 12-year-old thinks the event organized by Ålesund mosque is great fun. He is not alone in that.
– It’s great fun to celebrate ID party with family and friends, says Shaima Abdi (7), who also celebrates at Moa.
Shaima Abdi (7) has got a new dress and she has been looking forward to the ID celebration in Ålesund for a long time.
Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / NRK
Josef Benchi is project coordinator at Ålesund Mosque and says the victory celebration goes beyond all expectations.
Josef Benchi is the project coordinator at Ålesund Mosque and says that they started the celebration by saying an ID prayer and the celebration is dedicated to the children.
Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / NRK
– Now we have started activities for children and young people, and when we have finished with these, all the families go home and hold the party there. Then the children get to open their presents and we get to start and eat again after Ramadan.
Benchi says that this year’s fast has been full of feelings.
– One thing is to abstain from food. We learn patience. But then there is a lot going on in the world now. Among other things, the conflict in Palestine. We celebrate today, certainly, but our thoughts are with the people of Gaza and Palestine. We have prayed every single day for an end to this war.
Breaking the fast with dates is a prophetic tradition, and among other things at Krone Frukt in Hønefoss over 900 kilos of dates have been sold.
– One of the largest collections
In Østfoldhallen in Fredrikstad, over 1,500 women, men and children have turned up to celebrate. New this year is that two mosques in Østfold have collaborated on the meeting.
Tariq Alsagoff at the celebration of id in Østfoldhallen in Fredrikstad. He is the daily leader of Dialogforum Østfold.
Photo: Christian Nygaard-Monsen / NRK
– I think this is one of the largest collections in Østfold. There are not only people from Fredrikstad here, but also visitors from other cities who do not have the same opportunities, says Tariq Alsagoff.
He is the day-to-day leader of Dialogforum Østfold and says the fast itself has gone very well this year.
– Because the days have become shorter compared to when we plan to have it in summer time. After the celebration here, people go to their places to celebrate at home, and everyone is welcome here, says Alsagoff.
Here, food and sweets will be served in Østfoldhallen to the over 1,500 people who turned up.
Photo: Christian Nygaard-Monsen / NRK
At Tynset in Innlandet, over 100 people gathered for an ID celebration. There it started with prayer at nine o’clock, and then it was time for the first regular meal after a month of fasting.
The ID celebration at Tynset.
Photo: Geir Olav Slåen / NRK
In Stavanger, over 1,500 people gathered in Stavanger Forum for prayer and celebration.
Today, between 1,500 and 2,000 Muslims gathered in Stavanger for communal prayer.
Photo: Erik Waage / NRK
The gathering and the holiday here took place in Stavanger Forum.
Photo: Erik Waage / NRK
Praying under ID is important.
Photo: Erik Waage / NRK
After prayer, it is the children’s turn. They get gifts and candy.
Photo: Erik Waage / NRK
In Kristiansand, around 3,000 gathered for ID prayer in the Odderøya hall. There were children and adults from many different mosques and districts. Some children were going to the playground after prayer and most were going to celebrate with their families.
In Kristiansand, Id was celebrated with marzipan cake.
Photo: Hans Erik Weiby / NRK
Travelers to the celebration in Tromsø
– We arrived not so long ago, so until now we have only been able to try the bouncy castle, says Norah, with little Israh on her arm.
These girls were looking forward to the Id celebration in Fløyahallen in Tromsø.
Photo: Linnea Berg Thorkildsen / NRK
Norah, Israh and Selma have decorated together at home in Tromsø. They agree on what the highlight of the party day is:
– We enjoy being together with family and enjoying good food, says Norah.
– And to eat cake, Selma chimed in.
Johanne and Wilma are einige.
It is expected that around 1,000 people will attend the party in Tromsø. There are also visitors from the area around the city.
– There are many who are lonely, and it is a great opportunity for them to come here and feel that they actually have brothers and sisters who are here for them, says Nadia Kofoed Hakmi from Alnor Center in Tromsø.
Nadia Kofoed Hakmi at the ID celebration in Tromsø.
Photo: Linnea Berg Thorkildsen / NRK
Arrested person
Else, around 1,700 people gathered in the ID prayer inside the Leisure Park in Skien. It took place in two pools because there were so many people gathered.
Operations leader Ståle Fuglaas in the police said that they arrested a man outside the building where the ID prayer was.
The man must have appeared threatening and had something with him that could look like a weapon.
Published 10.04.2024, at 13.17 Updated 10.04.2024, at 21.16