Families gathered in celebration today to mark the end of Ramadan.
The Sefton Multicultural Centre, found at SING Plus Resource Centre in Seaforth, is home to a large Islamic community in South Sefton and welcomed around 150 people today for the Eid religious holiday. Eid marks the end of fasting during Ramadan and is a time of celebration for the Islamic community.
Chairman of the group Munzi Ali, from Waterloo, said that Eid is a time for family, food, celebration, and maybe even a few presents. Munzi said the turnout for today's prayers is a testament to the strong and growing Muslim community in Sefton.
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Munzi told the ECHO: "We have been fasting for the last 29 days and today is the end of that and we pray in the morning. Now my whole family will get together, all thirty of us, and have a big meal at my parent's house.
"It is a beautiful thing, especially after fasting which has been very challenging. You only maybe get five or six hours of sleep but you get used to it."
Munzi and others involved in the day-to-day running of the centre are currently looking for a more permanent home where they can embrace the community and offer more services with things such as homework clubs and food deliveries. The group currently works with the LFC Foundation to provide care packages for those less fortunate.
Saifuj Zaman is also a member of the group, he said: "Eid is a big family event and I think it is that strong sense of community that comes through. People forgive each other on this day and it is absolutely beautiful.
"This community gives me confidence and in the world we live in Islamophobia is quite rife, but I get a sense of belonging here. I am a proud scouser and was born here, I feel like I'm part of something, this group makes me feel whole.
"We are doing Secret Eid this afternoon, it is like Secret Santa and the whole family has been given a budget. The most important thing personally is making sure that I have time for, charity, community, and my family."
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