Eid-el-Kabir:  Carnival on major streets unites Nigerians on Lagos Island

Eid-el-Kabir:  Carnival on major streets unites Nigerians on Lagos Island

Unity

By Uchenna Eletuo

Lagos, June 16, 2024 (NAN) Eid-el Kabir celebration on Sunday united Nigerians on some major streets on Lagos Island  irrespective of their ethic, religious and political leanings.

Residents of  the streets ate, played and danced together   to commemorate the Muslim festival as families mounted beautiful canopies and set tables of assorted foods and drinks and entertained guests.

The imposing canopies covered the length and breath of streets such as Glover, Bamgbose, Joseph and Campos.

Hired local musicians entertained hosts and guests with  tunes that got many dancing and gifting money to  the singers and  drummers in appreciation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the annual celebration attracted  home, some ‘Lagos Islanders’ residing abroad.

The feast began after the symbolic slaughting of rams at  prayer grounds.

A cleric, Alhaji Agunbiade Lasis, said at the event that the feast signified sacrifice, obeisance to God and unity of purpose.

Lasis, who moved from house-to-house to offer prayers before ram slaughering, said that  Lagos Island residents always looked forward to the festival to express love and togetherness.

A youth leader, Mr Demeji Ojukutu, said: “Islanders are lovers of celebration.

“We welcome all and sundry in our fold with open arms as you can see here.

“If you are not told, you cannot differentiate the natives from visitors, as many of the guests wear same attire with the hosts.

“Foods, drinks and gift items are given to people freely. We are happy to see people come  and celebrate with us. That is the beauty of the day.”

Mr Etop Bassey, an Ibadan-based printer, said that he was a guest of his friend and business partner, Mr Taofeek Olagoke.

Bassey said that the event enabled him to make  more friends.

Chief Emeka Nnaji and his wife, Beta, guests of Alhaji Tunde Akainni, said that the event had no social boundary.

“Alhaji Akainni and I have been together for year; so, he can’t be doing such a big feast without my respecting him with my presence,” he said.

Earlier at the Ojo Army Cantonment Prayer Ground, Imam Ibrahim Ishaq, in his sermon, preached love, peace and prayer for  Nigeria’s leaders.

Ishaq, a Lieutenant in the army, said Eid-el Kabir signified  divine exchange of a human sacrifice for a ram.

According to him,  it entails obidience, sacrifice and trust in God.

“The ram meat is to be divided into three by faithful:  one for the household, one for  neighbours and one to be shared to the needy around  as an act of love,” he said.

NAN reports that Muslims worldwide celebrated the 2024 Eid-el Kabir on Sunday.  (NAN)

EUC/IGO

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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola