DAVE VASUDEVAN
CHICAGO: Residents of Naperville and the neighboring suburbs, professing different faiths and traditions, came together to celebrate Eid al Adha, with great enthusiasm and reverence, at Pita Inn, Naperville, a southwest suburb of Chicago last week.
Ashfaq Hussain Syed and Ayesha Osman, the event hosts, welcomed the guests for joining the Eid al Adha celebrations during a busy Labor Day weekend when many have family commitments and plans.
Steve Chirico, Mayor of Naperville, and his wife Julie, who were dressed in the unique Indian attire, were the cynosure of all eyes. In his address, Chirico said that Naperville is well-known for exceptionally good relations among people belonging to different religions, regions, and nations.
“This unique characteristic has mainly contributed for the emergence of Naperville as the best place to live and to do business in the entire US Midwest,” he said.
Addressing a select but august gathering, US Rep. Raja Krishnamurthy said that America is unique and exceptional in its equal respect for all religions. He said that understanding different religions and respecting them has been the hallmark of the American culture.
Indian Consul General in Chicago Sudhakar Dalela, in his brief address, observed that peace, compassion, and brotherhood are the universal values celebrated by all religions across the globe. He opined that practising these values is the need of the hour for giving a big boost to mutual co-existence, especially in the present times
Dr Gopal Lalmalani, Mayor of Oak Brook, said that all human beings belong to one race and, therefore, love is the single language, which even blind can see and deaf can hear. He stated that Eid ul Adha celebrates the value of sacrifice.
Shoaib Khadri, president of the Islamic Center of Naperville, explained the connection and similarities across different Abrahamic faiths – Jews, Christians, and Muslims. He provided insight into the Haj, highlighting a lesson from Malcom X’s memoirs that reflects on the commonness of humankind without any racial barriers. He underlined the importance of building a better understanding among people belonging to different backgrounds and thereby contributing to the continuous development of the US on all fronts.
Krishna Bansal, chairman, Indian Community Outreach, said that India believes in the traditional values of giving utmost respect for the religions of others. “The Indian-Americans, by practising this great value, have been enriching the social fabric of the US”, he added.
An array of eminent persons from different walks of life and many community leaders spoke on the occasion and underlined the need for more and more such occasions for enabling people, belonging to different backgrounds, to interact and understand others’ faiths in their true and total frame of reference.
Ashfaq emphasized and highlighted the significance of understanding the Islamic holiday of Eid ul Adha as well as many other faiths and festivals celebrated in the US, which is a reflection of the evolving America. Amaan Syed, a student of Scullen Middle School, thanked all the guests. The lively anchoring of the warm and beautiful event by Juveria Syeda, a junior at Neuqua VHS, was appreciated by one and all.
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