Muslim families in New York City are gearing up for Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Kenza Fourati and her children have decorated their home with a special Ramadan calendar, while Mahima Begum prepares a feast for relatives who visit her in Brooklyn. Ramatoulaye Diallo and her daughters cook a Senegalese dish called thiebou yapp, while Yelda Ali and her husband recreate Afghan traditions for their daughter Iman.
As the city’s nearly 800,000 Muslims prepare for the joyous holiday, mothers like Fourati, Begum, Diallo, and Ali are at the forefront of making the celebrations magical. For them, Eid al-Fitr is a time to show off new outfits, attend festivals, eat special dishes, and visit friends and family. Many of these mothers are blending old traditions from their homelands with new rituals in New York City.
For Ali, cultural preservation is essential, as she passes down Afghan recipes and traditions to her daughter. Meanwhile, Fourati wants to give her children a glimpse of how she celebrated Ramadan in Tunis when she was young. Begum, who grew up in Bangladesh, continues her mother’s legacy by preparing a feast every Eid.
Despite the challenges of being in a diaspora, these mothers are ensuring that their families stay connected to their cultural roots. As they prepare for Eid al-Fitr, they are passing on traditions, creating new memories, and helping their children understand and appreciate their heritage.
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