NEW YORK (TIP): The Dawoodi Bohra community in New York hosted a special Eid celebration event on Friday, September 7, at their community center in Springfield Boulevard in Queens. Dawoodi Bohra community resides in many countries around the world under the spiritual guidance of his Holines Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. The local Amil Saheb Yusufbhai Saheb Mohammedi has been appointed by His Holiness for New York/Connecticut jamaat under whose guidance the Eid program was organized for the community to acquaint them with the political and community leaders.

The event was attended by a host of dignitaries from New York City and Queens including New York City Comptroller John Liu, City Councilmen Leroy Comrie, Peter Koo and Robert Jackson, New York State Assembly Member Grace Meng and Nassau county Legislator Richard Nicolello. The event also included professionals from the South Asian American community such as Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Chairman of Parikh Worldwide, Prof. Indrajit S Saluja, Chief Editor of The Indian Panorama and Zahid Syed, Chair of the Nassau County Human Rights Commission.

The event was kicked off with a presentation on the Dawoodi Bohra community and their spiritual leader, His Holiness, Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin T.U.S., who is widely recognized as an ambassador of peace and goodwill. The Dawoodi Bohras are a one-million strong sect across the world with the current center of leadership being based in Mumbai, India, where a majority of the community resides. Over the last five decades, several thousand Dawoodi Bohras immigrated to the U.S., for whom the community center, or jamaat, serves as a great source of social, religious, and community support helping to secure their faith, customs, traditions, and culture.

“This event was not only an opportunity for us to celebrate the culmination of the month-long period of Ramadan but to also reach out to our local community and promote mutual understanding in accordance with the teachings of our spiritual leader,” said Yusuf Hatim Bhaisaheb Mohemmadi, the President of Anjuman-e-Badri, New York, the non-profit organization administering and managing the affairs of the Dawoodi Bohra Community in New York and Connecticut.

The Eid celebration presented a unique opportunity for the Dawoodi Bohra community members to learn more about their local elected officials, and in turn, acquaint them with their own community here in New York and around the world. Dr. Sudhir Parikh, who was felicitated at the event along with other guests, spoke about the importance of working together as Indians and part of the larger South Asian immigrant community that has always played a huge role in the economic progress of the United States.

“Community outreach, especially in the current climate, is extremely important,” said Ahmed Shakir, Honorable Secretary of the Public Relations Committee of Anjuman-e-Badri, New York. “And this event was a huge success in helping us create a more inclusive environment that extends beyond our own community and crosses religious and cultural barriers,” he added.

About Anjuman-E-Badri

Anjuman-e-Badri is a non-profit organization administering and managing the affairs of the Dawoodi Bohra Community in New York and Connecticut. The Anjuman-E-Badri community center is located at 131-24 Springfield Boulevard, Springfield Gardens, NY 11413. For more information, visit http://www.nyjamaat.org.

(Based on a Press Release)