The Eid al-Fitr celebrations that mark the end of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan will be subdued this year in Fresno because of the coronavirus restrictions still in place.

In past years, thousands of Muslims would gather at the Fresno Convention Center to mark the end of their month of daytime fasting and reflection on their faith.

But restrictions on large public gatherings, which were put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, are only slowly lifting after more than two months.

Eid will still be celebrated at Masjid Fresno Islamic Center on Shaw Avenue in central Fresno, but with proper social distancing, Imam El Sayed Ramadan said Friday morning.

‘Drive-through for Families’

The mosque is planning a “drive-through” for families to pick up gift bags for children and a family gift, he said.

The event will be at 11 a.m. Sunday, Ramadan said.

According to news reports, the crescent moon was not sighted Friday evening in Saudi Arabia, so Ramadan will end Saturday, and Eid will start Sunday.

ICCF Marks Eid on Zoom

At the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno on Nees Avenue in northeast Fresno, Eid will be celebrated with a prayer followed by family activities — but to keep families safe, everything will be by Zoom teleconference, said executive director Reza Nekumanesh.

The Eid program is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, he said.

In years past, the Islamic Center would have hosted a potluck breakfast for Eid, but there will be no such large gatherings for now, Nekumanesh said.

With the threat of infection spreading in the community, it’s still too risky, he said: “It’s not worth the pain that it would bring to families.”