VOLUNTEERS, staff and guests at Helen & Douglas House in Magdalen Road held a special celebration to mark the Muslim festival of Eid.

It was the first time in four years that the children’s and young adults’ hospice organised an event to mark the end of the Muslim observance of Ramadan, and dozens of people went.

Lin Beekar, who works at the hospice, said: “It was a brilliant day – Eid is a really good way to celebrate diversity in our local community.”

Ramadan lasts for one month and Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking or engaging in sexual relations from dawn until sunset.

During the celebration people had their foreheads painted with Okra and cooked Indian food including naan bread, pakora and lentil boras.

Helen & Douglas House worker Debbie Cowee, pictured with Manjura Parmar, said it was an amazing afternoon.

“Cooking brought us all together and it was just like being in a family home.”

Other recent celebrations of Eid in East Oxford included a fun day organised by Darussalam Oxford and the Oxford Islamic Information Centre at Oxford Spires Academy on Thursday, August 8.

Shahina Haque, head of Helen & Douglas House’s Family Support and Bereavement Team, said: “As a Muslim I have been observing Ramadan and I wanted to share this with Helen & Douglas House.

“It seemed a fantastic opportunity to involve everyone in the two hospice houses to share in Eid al-Fitr.

She added that she hoped the event, which ran from 11am until 4pm, would become a regular celebration at the hospice.