Muslims from around the Lower Mainland gathered at the Burnaby mosque last Sunday to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr festival, which marks the end of Ramadan, a holy month of fasting.
For 30 days, they practised abstinence - no food, drink (including water) or sex - during daylight hours.
"Everything is back on at night," said Imaad Ali, the mosque's outreach director.
According to Ali, those practising Ramadan wake up in advance of the sun rising and eat, and at sundown focus on an inten-tion to fast the following day.
Islam follows the lunar calendar, so Ramadan can fall in any season, but the long summer days can make it more challenging.
"When it's during the winter, it's easy because you are just skipping lunch," Ali said.
Ramadan builds solidarity with people living in poverty, he added.
"Even the most wealthy Muslim cannot enjoy the splendors he has during the daylight hours," Ali said. "It sort of builds empathy with those who suffer."
Eid-ul-Fitr, which celebrates the conclusion of Ramadan, usually involves a feast and prayers at the mosque.
The Burnaby celebration included food, a prayer, sermon, and messages from local dignitaries, like Coun. Sav Dhaliwal and MLA Raj Chouhan and representatives from the RCMP and fire department.
DREAM TRIP
An 11-year-old Burnaby boy is about to have his dream come true with an all-expenses paid trip to Disneyland, courtesy of the Sunshine Foundation Canada.
Russ Leung, who is visually impaired, gets to go to Disneyland in California, thanks to the non-profit group that makes dreams come true for children with lifethreatening illnesses or severe physical disabilities.
Russell will be accompanied by his family, and the group leaves Sept. 5.
SMALLEST RESCUE
The Burnabybased Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. recently released its tiniest patient ever - an orphaned rufous hummingbird smaller than a pinky finger.
Two baby hummingbirds were rescued from a barge on the Sunshine Coast and brought to the centre in early July. The nest was the size of a mushroom cap, and the babies measure about four centimetres. The Wildlife Rescue Association has treated rufous hummingbirds before, but never has the centre raised nestlings.
"It's very rare for hummingbird nestlings to be seen at wildlife rescue centres, so we knew it was going to be a very complex rehabilitation," said wildlife rehabilitator Linda Bakker. "They are so tiny and vulnerable, when they arrived and in the early days, we didn't think either of them would survive."
The weaker baby bird died, but one survived and started flying after a 12-day diet of nectar, blood worms and fruit flies.
The hummingbird was in such good shape, the centre released her in early August after five weeks of care.
"This is the first time we have had a rufous humming bird nestling, and it has turned into one of our biggest successes," Bakker said. "It has been a huge effort by Wildlife Rescue Association staff and volunteers to ensure that she got the very specialized care she needed and we are really excited that she has the chance to live in the wild."
The bird was released in Port Coquitlam.
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