TIRANA, July 17 – Albanians have celebrated Great Bajram, as the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr is known locally, with family dinners and visits to friends and relatives.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a month of prayer and fasting for practicing Muslims. Hundreds of Albanians flocked to mosques and squares for early morning prayers.
In Tirana, an annual large prayer session took place on the Nation’s Fallen Boulevard. A new large mosque has recently started to be built in the area to avoid people having to pray on the street when there is a large celebration like Bajram.
The head of the Muslim Community, Skënder Brucaj, gave a sermon and wished all the best for all those who fasted, prayed and performed good deeds during Ramadan.
Sermons in several parts of the country also condemned religious radicalism and urged the pious to do good deeds and help those in need.
Six in ten Albanians declared Islam as their religion in the 2011 census. Great Bajram is one of Albania’s six officially-sanctioned religious national holidays – three each for the country’s Muslim and Christian communities.
The country’s history of religious harmony and widespread interfaith marriage means religious holidays like Bajram and Christmas are celebrated beyond direct religious affiliations.
President Bujar Nishani, during his visit with the Muslim Community leaders, wished peace, happiness and joy for all those celebrating.
“This celebration is always a joyous occasion, but it becomes much more beautiful and significant after the sacrifice of fasting,” Nishani told the media during the visit. “All religious holidays in Albania are a value and clear indicator of inter-faith cohabitation.”
