Men gather in prayer during the Eid Al-Fitr celebration held at the Orange County Islamic Foundation Saturday, May 7, 2022. (Photo by Patrick Smith, Contributing Photographer)
Brother and sister Misbah Zazai and Homaira Zazai ages 5 and 8 pick out their favorite snow cone flavors during the Eid Al-Fitr celebration Saturday May 7, 2022 at the Orange County Islamic Foundation in Mission Viejo, CA. (Photo By Patrick Smith)
Men gather in prayer during the Eid Al-Fitr celebration held at the Orange County Islamic Foundation in Mission Viejo, CA Saturday, May 7, 2022. (Photo by Patrick Smith, Contributing Photographer)
Syra, the owner of “Moussacups,” a deserts vendor, helps a customer during the Eid Al-Fitr event Saturday, May 7, 2022 (Photo By Patrick Smith, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees gather at the Eid Al-Fitr event held at the Orange County Islamic Foundation in Mission Viejo, CA Saturday, May 7, 2022 (Photo By Patrick Smith, Contributing Photographer)
Khaled Obeid and Khaled Qolaghasi celebrate Eid Al-Fitr at the Orange County Islamic Foundation in Mission Viejo, CA Saturday May 7, 2022 (Photo By Patrick Smith, Contributing Photographer)
Aya Hussein, age 7 of Mission Viejo picks out her favorite snow cone flavors during the Eid Al-Fitr festivities Saturday May 7, 2022 (Photo By Patrick Smith, Contributing Photographer)
Men gather in prayer during the Eid Al-Fitr celebration held at the Orange County Islamic Foundation Saturday, May 7, 2022. (Photo by Patrick Smith, Contributing Photographer)
Omar Alhezaimi of Newport Beach attends the Eid Al-Fitr at the Orange County Islamic Foundation Saturday May 7, 2022. (Photo by Patrick Smith, Contributing Photographer)
To bring the community together after the weeks of sacrifice and spiritual work each person has done during Ramadan, mosques traditionally host an Eid Festival to celebrate and connect after the holy month.
On Saturday, May 7, the Orange County Islamic Foundation in Mission Viejo hosted families for a day of fun and feasting. There were food trucks, games and activities for kids throughout the day outside the mosque. Other mosques in Orange County had events planned Saturday or other times during the month.
The month of Ramadan ended the evening of May 1. Directly following, members of the mosque gathered for prayer services and then celebrated with their families and close connections, said Mahboob Akhter, chair of the OCIF’s community engagement team, said.
This weekend’s festival was a celebration for the community together, he said. “This is a connection the mosque makes with its community.”
