Eid ul-Fitr for Muslim Newcomers: Bethany YMCA, CAIR Oklahoma, and Bethany Public Library

On a breezy, sunny, and cool late Saturday afternoon in April 2024, hundreds of men, women, and children gathered at the Bethany YMCA to celebrate a religious holiday. The YMCA is no stranger to hosting such events, including an annual holiday party during the Christmas season. For the past two years, the Northwest Oklahoma City YMCAs, in partnership with CAIR Oklahoma, have expanded their service into the community by hosting an Eid ul-Fitr celebration for Muslims from Afghanistan and Syria who have resettled in the Oklahoma City Metro area.
Eid ul-Fitr is a festival that celebrates the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a 30-day season of daily prayers, financial donations to those in need, and fasting from food and drink from dawn to sunset. To mark its significance, Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr with communal prayer, feasting, gift-giving, and charity. It is one of the most important holidays in the Muslim community. This celebration at trusted, local community organizations that seek to know and serve all their neighbors is a true sign of welcome and the Oklahoma Standard.

For some families, this is their third Eid ul-Fitr celebration in Oklahoma City, and for others, it is the first time to celebrate the holiday in a new country. Each year, CAIR Oklahoma has partnered with community organizations to provide a place for Muslim newcomers to celebrate this important holiday. In a partnership between CAIR Oklahoma, Catholic Charities and The Spero Project, the May 2022 Eid celebration took place at a hotel where most Afghan families were living while they awaited more permanent housing solutions. By April 2023, most families were living in local apartment complexes, and the YMCA at Rockwell Plaza hosted the event, providing transportation for those most recently moved into new homes. The event was such a success the YMCA wanted to partner again in 2024 at their Bethany location!


Taylor York, NW District Executive Director


Waseem Ahmed
from Kebabish Bites


CAIR Oklahoma has welcomed Muslim newcomers to the state since Operation Allies Welcome in August 2021. You can learn more about ways we supported new Oklahomans at the CAIR Oklahoma Refugee Services website.
If your organization would like to support Afghan neighbors, CAIR Oklahoma can help you reach your goals! Email Jen Hund (jhund@cair.com) to learn more.