MEFF: Eid festival defies the odds with over 20,000 in attendance

MEFF, Sydney’s 38th annual Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair with the slogan “Rain, Hail or Shine” again showed its resilience despite the prediction of 100% of rain that was eventually reduced to 10%, managing to attract tens of thousands of its loyal patrons last Sunday 30 April at Fairfield Showground to enjoy the festivities of Eid.

MEFF Lunch Reception was attended by over 150 invited guests including politicians, community and interfaith leaders who also attended the Main Ceremony together with large crowds who were addressed from the stage by representatives from three tiers of the government including the Chief Guest, NSW Minister Jihad Dib, Federal MP Dai Le and Mayor Frank Carbone.

MEFF is the first, the largest and the longest-running Eid festival in Australia, being founded in 1985 by late Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad OAM helped by his extended family and with wider community support.

MEFF 2023 delivered an enhanced Islamic festival experience for its patrons including thrilling rides including camel and pony rides, reptile zoo, multicultural cuisine, arts workshops, quiz competitions culminating with a spectacular fireworks.

Newly elected Member for Bankstown Hon Jihad Dib, , Minister for Customer Service, Minister for Emergency Services and Minister for Youth Justice was the Chief Guest at MEFF 2023 who glowingly spoke about the highly successful and long track record of MEFF.

“Events like this are important especially when it comes to promoting diversity and understanding, and acceptance of one another. For over 30 years, the MEFF festival have played that part really importantly and I’ve been here a number of times – what we see here is an understanding of what modern Australia is. People come to share celebrations, get to understand one another and gets to understand what it is that makes us a better country. We’re a better country when everybody works together, when everybody understands one another and when everybody celebrates each others things,”  Jihad Dib said.

He later added, “What a great Sunday, the weather was beautiful and I joined over 25,000 others at the 38th Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair MEFF to mark the end of Ramadan. In my speech, I reaffirmed my commitment to be a voice that celebrates the richness of our diversity.

“Lots of fun, food and games were enjoyed by all little and big kids! Looking forward to next year’s Festival already,” Mr Dib concluded.

The local federal member Dai Le MP for the seat of Fowler while addressing from the main stage was highly excited to experience the diversity of attendees at the festival and its multicultural cuisine and cultural programs.

“It was great to be celebrating another cultural event at the Fairfield City Showground today. I was honored to take part in the Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair, which was marking its 38 years celebrations. Here in our great Cultural Diversity of Fairfield Council, the beating heart of multicultural Australia, this multicultural Eid festival and fair wouldn’t have happened without the vision and leadership of the late Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad OAM, a Muslim community leader who I believe wanted to share his vision and cultural events to the rest of the community,” Ms Dai Le later said.

She further added, “Cultural activities such as today’s event is multiculturalism at its best. When we are able to celebrate a diversity and different religious festivals in harmony and unity. Eid Mubarak to the Islamic Community,” she further added.

The Mayor of Fairfield Council, Mr Frank Carbone, during his address from the stage at the Main Ceremony highlighted Sydney’s best undercover facilities at the Fairfield Showground that enabled MEFF to be held in spite of rainy weather predictions and assured of the Council’s support for MEFF 2024.

Charishma Kaliyanda, newly elected MP for the state seat of Liverpool said, “The Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair MEFF has been a local institution for the last 38 years. It was a pleasure to acknowledge and celebrate its incredible contribution to our community and to multiculturalism in general.”

She further added, “It’s a huge undertaking to organise something of this scale even once let alone year after year for longer than l’ve been alive! Well done to the organisers, sponsors and many volunteers for bringing it together!”

Newly election state MP for the seat of Leppington Nathan Hagarty said, “Great to see blue skies return for the 38th annual Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair this afternoon. It’s even better when my parliamentary colleagues @jihaddib_mp and @ckaliyanda are also there to join in the celebration!”

MEFF was initiated by Islamic Foundation for Education (IFEW) back in 1985 with the Australasian Muslim Times (AMUST) as a long time media partner since 1991.

MEFF 2023 is sponsored by Platinum Sponsor: Human Appeal Australia and Gold Sponsors: Powerhouse Parramatta, SBS and Remitly. Funding for this project has been provided by the NSW Government through Multicultural NSW.

In addition to the prediction of rain, MEFF 2023 was constrained with its President, Hanif Bismi together with a number of key members of the organising committee sick with COVID-19. However the other team members showed great resilience in compensating for them and delivered a highly successful event enjoyed and appreciated by the community at large as evidenced by the following testimonials.

MEFF 2023 Testimonials

“We went to the Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair on Sunday. We went to this festival after many, many years with our daughters as we used to go frequently when they were younger. I also have been with my family many times as a teenager and we used to come all the way from Newcastle where we lived so this festival has been on for a very, very long time.

We went late at night as we couldn’t go in the afternoon. We enjoyed watching the fireworks from start to finish which were very nice.

We tried the special Paella @mikkispaella We had their delicious seafood Paella and their chicken Paella. Thank you @mikkispaella for the invite and for your lovely hospitality.

We also tried some freshly made Gozleme @istanbul__gozleme. We enjoyed their yummy classic spinach & cheese, beef, chicken & The Lot Gozleme and the loaded fries with their special Istanbul sauce. Thank you @istanbul__gozleme for the invite and for your lovely hospitality.

For desserts, our daughters got ice cream and pistachio Kulfi which was yummy too.

We also checked out the lovely “Moments in Waiting” Art Exhibition by @powerhousemuseum

There were many clothes stalls and a variety of multi cuisine food stalls and food trucks. There were also children’s rides and fun activities at this festival including camel rides.

My Spiritual Journey & MEFF

It was at MEFF where I purchased my first copy of the Bible to read due to being in an interfaith dialogue with my Christian manager at work.

It was at MEFF where I gave a speech on stage about my first book on comparative religion and my 3 young daughters stood with me on stage. I also did a radio interview with SBS Urdu radio at MEFF about my book.

I attended the special lunch events at MEFF from ISRA (Islamic Sciences & Research Academy) with my family too.” – Zainab @fabfoodandtravel

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MashaAllah what an absolutely magical day for children n Adults alike with the blessings of the Almighty weather wise Alhumdullilah. Lots to eat,n drink. Children programme Was excellent too.

Cleaners did a great job n toilets were continuously clean. Security very alert n mindful of the large crowd delivering a safe n enjoyable day for all. Alot of Islamic literature n first had info pertaining to the originality of the Holy Quran n our beloved Prophet Peace n Blessings be upon him was readily available.

A very successful day. Alhumdullilah. Look forward to a bigger and much improved Eid celebration next year Inn Shaa .Allah” – Maureen

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“One hundred times better than Bankstown. Keep up the amazing work, you’ve won us over” – Jasmine

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“Mashallah it was a great success and the Eid event to attend every year” – Salim

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“Congratulations to Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair

MEFF on yet another spectacularly successful event at the Fairfield Showground yesterday.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank

MEFF for their kind invitation to the VIP reception and main ceremony.

The guest speakers on the day, who included state government MPs Jihad Dib MP (Minister for Consumer Service), and local members Julia Finn MP, Charishma Kaliyanda and Nathan Hagarty MP , all spoke glowingly of MEFF, which this year celebrated its 38th anniversary.

With such a long and formidable history, MEFF has become part of the social fabric of our area and the local community, both Muslim and non-Muslim, looks forward to its renewal each and every year.

Having been cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to

COVID-19 and with reluctance among the community about attending major events in 2022 for the same reason, the organisers have worked incredibly hard to get MEFF back on track and no doubt, the sky is the limit from now on.

OBA Mosque wishes MEFF ongoing success with this amazing initiative and we look forward to collaborating with them in the future.” – Othman Bin Affan Mosque

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“Well said, OBA Mosque! It was a great day and MEFF is a great initiative. 38 years is a huge effort.

I don’t have much history in terms of Eid events to compare it to but is superbly run and MEFF get the rewards their hard work deserve.

Nice photo of Zia Ahmad too, what an asset to the community he is and what a great publication he has in AMUST.” – Paul

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“Mashaa Allah a well organised and much awaited event loved being part of it see you again next vear in shaa Allah

Much love from my a loyal favourite Modest Designs, I think it’s my 10th year with you.” – Sue (Modest Designs)

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“Thank you for a great event. Great food, good stalls and performances.” – Neeshan

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“Thank you so much for having us! It was such a wonderful event and MashAllah very well organised.”

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“it was an amazing event kids and adults we all enjoyed alot .well organized with lots of fun and activities with a great supporting weather ) can’t wait for the next one.” – Sana

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“Thank you for all the hard work! We had a lovely time and fireworks were amazing.” – @_tastyhalal_

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“A brilliant event mashaAllah! Heartwarming to see how much it’s grown since the last time I attended 6 vears ago!” – @desertechodrums

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“We had an amazing time! Thank you to all involved! There was a great variety of stalls, shows, foods and rides truly multicultural alhumdulilah.” – @smash.ed.po.tato

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“The @meffamc was sure a hit with a variety of stalls to shop & be entertained from!

Alhumdulillah had my first stall at the @meffamc event & met so many amazing people who had stopped by to get our henna done … couldnt capture all the designs as phone had died down completely at the event.” – @sultanaartistry

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“Thank guys for an amazing day and for all ur hard work .cant wait for next year inshallah.” – Kabur

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“AHHH-Mazing! Thank you for the lovely show you all put up. The kids had a great day. Everything from the rides, food, stalls were great and affordable.”

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“Wot an event! Had a great day! Thanks to the whole team behind the event.”

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“Mashallah I was there best day ever no rain sunshine all the day we enjoyed every thing.”