The streets of Astoria were alive with the spirit of Eid this past Saturday, March 21. The Malikah Safety Center hosted an Eid market in Astoria, Queens, where vendors, families, children, locals, and visitors from across New York City gathered to enjoy the splendid, lively atmosphere and beautiful spring weather.
Patrons smile in front of a photo booth under a Malikah backdrop. Photo Credit: Suha Syed
Stalls of Every Style
Vendors from all over dotted Steinway Street, offering everything from clothing and toys to traditional Arab fragrances and mouthwatering desserts, of course, including the ever-so-popular Dubai chocolate. Lavender-hued abayas adorned with ornate stonework shimmered in the sun, displayed beside vendors grilling fragrant shish kebabs over open flames.
A gorgeous lavender abaya sparkles in the sun. Photo Credit: Suha Syed
Lunch options were plentiful. Patrons could choose from traditional Arab favourites like falafel and shawarma, as well as halal Mexican food and food truck specials. Desserts were abundant in a mouthwatering variety: everything from Dubai chocolate strawberries, cake pops, and cookies to freshly fried jalebi (a syrupy south asian dessert) was available for guests to enjoy.
Freshly fried halal empanadas await hungry customers. Photo Credit: Suha Syed
Ayla Ahmad of Bushwick, who learned about the Eid market through social media, took a special liking to the vendors that reminded her of home.
“I loved seeing one of the food vendors creating fresh jalebi,” Ahmad said. “I’ve never seen that before, and it was such a cool thing to witness. Even approaching the vendor, I was spoken to in my native tongue, so it was very meaningful on a personal level.”
Children dig into sweets, crepes and dubai strawberries, on the curbside. Photo Credit: Suha Syed
Basking in Belonging
Queens is famously regarded as New York City’s most diverse borough. According to Data USA, 47.3% of Queens County residents, more than 1.1 million people, were born outside the United States. Astoria’s Steinway Street is often dubbed “Little Egypt” due to the large immigrant population from North Africa and the Middle East.
New York City is home to millions of people who come from different parts of the country and the world. Ahmad, who now lives in Bushwick but grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, said the market reminded her of home and strengthened her sense of belonging.
“As I live away from my family, I felt like I was back in Pakistan where everyone around me was dressed to the nines in gorgeous ethnic clothing,” Ahmad said. “I loved hearing the different languages like Urdu, Arabic, and Punjabi. It created such a sense of belonging.”
Family members smile in a loving embrace. Photo Credit: Suha Syed
Hope, Gratitude, and Glad Tidings
Though it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the state of the world, the joy of Eid offers a reminder to slow down and embrace gratitude and presence.
“There are many reasons to hide from the world and stay inside, especially with current events,” Ahmad said. “However, there are things we have to be grateful for, and I think we deserve to share and relish in that. Eid is a joyous time where we can acknowledge and be grateful for our position in life.”
For more events and updates, follow The Malikah Safety Center on Instagram at @malikahcenter or visit www.malikah.org.
