On April 8th, our office gathered for a special moment — the first-ever Eid celebration at the UMass President’s Office! It was a heartwarming event that brought colleagues together to learn, connect, and celebrate the spirit of Eid.
Akshit opened the celebration with a warm welcome and introduced our speakers for the day.
🗣️ Siraj Sayyed kicked off the program by sharing an insightful overview of Eid. He explained:
- What is Eid? A holy festival celebrated at the end of the month of Ramadan.
- Why is it celebrated? Eid marks the reward from the Almighty after fulfilling the month-long duty of fasting.
- When is it celebrated? Based on the lunar calendar, Eid dates vary each year.
- How is it celebrated? With prayers, family gatherings, delicious food and sweets, exchanging gifts (especially for children in the form of “Eidi money”), charity, and heartfelt greetings.
🌍 Following Siraj, Shahriar Panahi gave us a glimpse into how Eid is celebrated in his home country. He shared personal stories and answered questions from the audience, making it a truly engaging and informative session.
🍬 To embrace the festive flavor, attendees enjoyed traditional desserts like Jalebi and Rasmalai, paired with coffee — a sweet touch to the cultural celebration.
🎉 The event concluded with a fun, interactive Eid-themed Kahoot quiz, sparking laughter and friendly competition across the room.
💬 One attendee shared, “I never knew all this about Eid — I’m so glad I came. I learned so much!”
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this celebration memorable. We look forward to creating more inclusive and meaningful moments together!
