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Transcript/Script((TITLE: US Interfaith Eid Celebration TV
HEAD: Sikhs of Virginia Celebrate End of Ramadan
TEASER: To combat Islamophobia, Sikh community reaches out to all faiths for festival of Eid
PUBLISHED AT: 05/02/2022 at 6:20 pm
BYLINE: Saqib Ul Islam
DATELINE: Manassas, VA
CAMERA: Saqib Ul Islam
VIDEO EDITOR: Saqib Ul Islam
PRODUCER: Saqib Ul Islam
VIDEO FROM: VOA
COURTESIES NEEDED:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Mia Bush, pcd, newhouse, SR
TYPE: VPKGN
TRT: 2:55
VIDEO APPROVER'S INITIALS: mcb
UPDATE: ))
((INTRO))
[[The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported there was a spike in Islamophobia and a surge in hate crimes against Muslims in the United States last year. The council recommends bringing minority communities together to try to defuse tensions. One such effort is linked to celebrations to mark the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan. VOA’s Saqib Ul Islam reports from a Sikh community in Virginia.]]
((NARRATOR))
For 9-year-old Sona Agha, tonight is all about shopping.
((Sona Agha, Attendee))
“The nice dress, the henna, the jewelries. …"
((NARRATOR))
For Muslims, Chaand Raat, the eve of Eid al-Fitr, is a time of celebration when families and friends gather at the end of Ramadan to spot the new moon, which announces the arrival of the Islamic month of Shawwal and the day of Eid.
((NARRATOR))
But tonight, it’s a different kind of celebration.
((Agha Qazalbash, Muslim Attendee))
“This is a very special, you know why, because Sikh community organized.”
((NARRATOR))
And with a broader message to thank Pakistani Muslims for the tolerance shown to Sikhs in Pakistan.
((Kuldeep Gill, Organizer))
“Since I came to United States, most of my friends are Pakistani Muslims. They are like my brothers, we feel like we are same. And the reason for doing this event is, for so many years, you (Pakistan) have been taking care of gurdwaras (Sikh Temples) over there and with such respect.”
((NARRATOR))
The Kartarpur Corridor is a visa-free border crossing and religious corridor between India and Pakistan, connecting a Sikh Temple of Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan to Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak in India, opened in 2019.
((NARRATOR))
The event was also attended by members of many different religious communities.
((Manju Mathur, Hindu Attendee))
“I think everything should be above religion, and we should be like real human beings enjoying together and living life in its completeness.”
((Tanu Govind, Hindu Attendee))
“It gives us a common platform to meet people, to connect with them.”
((NARRATOR))
This is Kelly Goldberg’s first time attending an end of Ramadan celebration.
((Kelly Goldberg, Jewish Attendee))
“I think these events, and any opportunity to go experience a different culture to understand what it’s really about, that Islam is a religion of peace, to know that, to experience that, to be in a room full of people here, who are Muslims, among others, you’ll know, you’ll have that first-hand experience. There is no substitute for that.”
((NARRATOR))
For Muslims to attend a religious celebration organized by Sikhs is an opportunity to subtly address Islamophobia, which is on the rise in America, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
((Zulfiqar Kazmi, Muslim Attendee))
“People should see that how we can handle and tackle all those issues which are directly related to the Islamophobia.”
((NARRATOR))
Interfaith solidarity also on display at the White House Monday, where President Joe Biden and the first lady marked the Eid holiday pledging to strengthen and uphold the tradition of religious freedom for all in America.
((Saqib Ul Islam, for VOA News, Manassas, Virginia.))
NewsML Media TopicsReligion and Belief
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMay 2, 2022 18:37 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
