Connolly Park in Voorhees celebrated a cultural exchange as more than 1,100 people gathered on June 30 for the first South Jersey Eid Al Adha Festival.
The event – organized by the Voorhees Organization of Islamic Culture and Engagement (VOICE) – was a collaborative effort that involved South Jersey Muslim communities and groups from Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Marlton, Cherry Hill, and Voorhees.
Sponsored by the Voorhees Diversity Committee, the festival promoted inclusivity and celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the area Muslim community.
The event was orchestrated by five women from different towns: Aya Salem of Voorhees, Anam Raja of Cherry Hill, Aysha Hasan of Moorestown, Tasama Soltan of Marlton and Sarah Bernardo of Mount Laurel. Each played a crucial role in organizing the festival, leveraging strengths and fostering unity among the diverse communities.
VOICE’s goal is to foster understanding, cultural exchange, and community engagement within Voorhees, according to Salem, its president.
“We aim to promote inclusivity and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Muslim community in Voorhees,” she said. “We also focus on supporting our members through educational programs, social events and community services.”
The Eid festival stemmed from a desire to bring the South Jersey Muslim community together for a unified celebration that extends beyond Voorhees.
“We felt it was important to connect with both the wider Muslim community and our neighbors in South Jersey,” Salem explained. “By sharing our holidays and traditions, we hope to bridge cultural gaps, promote understanding and create a space where everyone can enjoy and respect each other’s cultures.”
Despite being relatively new, VOICE has already made strides in community engagement.
“This is our first event of this kind, but we hope it is the first of many,” Salem noted. “We have been focusing on educational programs at the school and working with the school board to make Eid al-Fitr a school holiday.
“We’re excited to share that we’ve succeeded, and starting in the 2024-’25 school year, Voorhees Township will officially recognize Eid al-Fitr as a school holiday.”
The festival was made possible by the collaboration of area Muslim organizations, with representatives from each township totaling about 14 members.
“Witnessing how quickly and effectively we could organize this event, leveraging each other’s strengths and taking initiative, has been an amazing experience,” she acknowledged.
Raja said despite the weather, the turnout festival was impressive and plans are already being made for next year. Soltan – who represents Marlton Muslim families – addressed the importance of diversity and inclusivity.
“We have made significant strides, including securing a day off for Eid al-Fitr in Evesham and Lenape school calendars for the 2024-’25 school year.”
The VOICE team hopes the Eid Festival will become a regular event for all members of the community.
“… Just like any other major holiday,” Hasan emphasized. “Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, and we hope the celebration of Eid will normalize as much as other well-known holidays.”
