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Issue 00442 |
October 21 - 27, 2006 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
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Front Page 2 |
| Arusha to host national Eid-El-Fitr prayers,
assembly By Valentine Marc Nkwame Arusha is hosting this year’s Eid-El-Fitr prayers to be held at the national level here, on either Monday or Tuesday depending on the sighting of the Ramadhan moon. The region will also be the national venue of the follow -up Eid Assembly which President, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete is expected to be the guest of honor. The National Secretary General for the Muslim Council in Tanzania (BAKWATA) Sheikh Suleiman Mohamed Gorogosi, who is currently in Arusha, said the Ramadhan’s 29th moon cycle is expected to take place the night of Sunday the 22nd of October or Monday October 23rd, after which the Eid Prayers will follow at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium as from 8.30 am. According to Sheikh Gorogosi guests from all over the country and government officials are expected to attend the mass and later on the National Eid Assembly to be held at the Simba Hall of the Arusha International Conference Center (AICC) from 2.30pm. The first Eid-Ul-Fitr Day marks the completion of four weeks of Ramadan fasting by the Muslim around the world. The Eid-El-Fitr holidays normally take two days after the sighting of the crescent shaped moon which signals the end of the annual Ramadhan season. “However it is not compulsory that the moon should be sighted around the world at the same time,” added Sheikh Gorogosi who is also the Islam sovereign for Lindi Region, Radio personality and religious teacher by profession. “In some areas the moon will be seen much earlier than other parts, thus Eid is likely to be celebrated at two different times, this is a normal act of God and does not necessarily indicate division among Muslim sects,” Sheikh Gorogosi explained. “We expect the president to be the guest of honor at the National Eid Assembly on the Eid-El-Fitr afternoon, but should he chose to spend the Eid eve in Arusha, then Kikwete may also grace the morning prayers at the stadium as any other Moslem, though not as guest of honor this time, because we Muslims do not have ‘guests of honors’ during prayers.” Sheikh Gorogosi said the entire BAKWATA team of officials will be camping in Arusha for the whole week leading to the 2006 Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, making previous arrangements.
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