How I celebrated Eid 2024 in Leeds

How I Celebrated My Eid Day

My Eid started with the early morning prayers at Leeds Grand Mosque which is one of my favourite local mosques. The atmosphere was serene and filled with the energy of anticipation. After prayers, my friends and I gathered at Doh’hut at Trevelyan Square for a hearty breakfast. I had a delicious raspberry jam and chocolate ganache donuts along with my iced caramel latte.

After breakfast, I came back home to have a rest, but my classmates were waiting for me at my place. Here is an interesting thing, my birthday and eid were overlapping on the same date this year. My classmates surprised me with a birthday cake, flower bouquets and gifts. Then all of us headed over to Mr.Su's, an oriental Chinese restaurant where we had noodles and dumplings.

In the evening, my Arab friend invited me to his place for dinner. He had prepared traditional Yemeni dish called lamb kabsa, cooked meat and rice along with spices all together in one pot. It was so tasty, and we were so happy playing cards as well. Furthermore, it was so beautiful to see everyone dressed in their finest attire, exchanging gifts, and catching up on each other’s lives.

Places in Leeds that celebrated Eid as well

I was invited to attend the University of Leeds Eid Celebration Event. It was held at the Refectory, Leeds University Union. I feel rewarded because I volunteered with the Iftar team during Ramadan. The venue was decorated so beautifully from the photo booth to the tablecloth and the napkins had ‘Celebrate’ written on it, with an Eid card for everyone. Everything was so detailed, and I could feel the warmth from the bottom of my heart.

The event started at 18:30 with the welcome speech and Quran recitation. We had the following for our feast; Onion Pakoas, Seekh Kababs, Lamb Karahi, Mixed Daal, Naan along with Kheer and Gajar Halwa with tea as dessert. The generosity of food preparation for 400 people was unbelievable. In addition, the program manager’s thankful speech to Ramadan team was lovely and sorrowful at the same time. I could not appreciate enough the efforts of volunteers especially to those non-Muslims. The local British people are so friendly and always give respect to other religions. This was such a wonderful thing I found out.

The event came to an end while we took our gorgeous pictures around and saying goodbye to each other. I headed to a café named Cha Cha Chai near Roundhay Park with my friend from Newcastle. We talked about many things that night and came back home in the early hours of the next day. It was such an unforgettable night indeed.

LBU Events

As a student at the university, I was excited to see how our campus celebrated Eid. The Islamic Society organized an Eid party at MyLahore restaurant. It was the day after Eid, so I managed to attend another party. I was excited and bought the ticket to attend as soon as I heard about it. The party included a 3 courses meal and fun activities. The party began with a Quran recitation and introduction of the society members. We played games such as pass the parcel, truth or dare and so on where the winner got prizes. Then one male and one female best attire awards and it was one of the most exciting highlights of the party.

My final thoughts

Celebrating Eid in Leeds was an unforgettable experience. From the warmth of friends’ gatherings to the excitement of community events, it was an Eid filled with love, laughter, and unity. The city of Leeds itself embraced Eid with open arms, with vibrant celebrations.

What made this Eid even more special was the sense of community and inclusivity. Regardless of faith or background, people came together to celebrate, share food, and exchange smiles. The diversity of Leeds truly shone through, showcasing the beauty of unity in diversity.

As the sun set on Eid day, I could not help but feel grateful for the warmth and camaraderie that filled the air. Eid Mubarak resonated not just as a greeting but as a symbol of shared joy and unity. In Leeds, Eid was not just a religious celebration; it was a celebration of humanity itself.