Fairgrounds one of Ramadan sites

Danette Goulet

COSTA MESA -- By the time the new moon came into view Thursday evening,

signaling the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the Eid-Ul Fitr

celebration, Islamic leaders in Orange County had found a place to

gather.

Although worshipers may have to pray in two shifts at the Orange County

Fairgrounds, at least they have a place to gather, said Thomas

Thorkelson, president of the Orange County region of the National

Conference for Community and Justice.

“I am an individual who makes lemonade out of my lemons and to dwell on

the fact that we would have liked to do it differently would hurt the

environment that we want,” Thorkelson said.

Eid-Ul Fitr is a three-day celebration in the Islamic faith that follows

the monthlong fast of Ramadan. Nearly 20,000 followers in Orange County

plan to gather to pray and break their fast over the weekend.

Since the end of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the new moon on

the lunar calendar, Islamic leaders cannot reserve a large enough venue

in advance, said Hussam Ayloush, the executive director of the Southern

California chapter for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Several local mosques hold celebrations of their own over the three-day

period, but that leaves 10,000 to 15,000 worshipers looking for a place

to pray.

In the past, the group has used the Anaheim Convention Center or the Long

Beach Convention Center.

“We had hoped for something else to be made available,” Thorkelson said.

Worshipers will meet at the Orange County Fairgrounds at 9 a.m. Saturday.

“There will be two large buildings, but they will not accommodate the

crowds we’d hoped for,” Thorkelson said.

Another prayer session will begin at 10 a.m., but there will not be

another sermon following the prayer session. Prayer and sermon is

traditionally followed by sweets or breakfast, Ayloush said.

“Then people go home and rest before they start their social

visitations,” he said. “First the younger visit the older, then in the

afternoon, parents take their children out. It is a very social

occasion.”

Unfortunately, the lack of a large venue on short notice is a recurring

problem, Ayloush said.

“Perhaps it is a lesson for us to start establishing larger centers that

will hold us or to begin establishing better relations with those who

could accommodate us,” he said.

PLACES TO WORSHIP

* Islamic Society of Orange County holding services at The Orange County

Fairgrounds on Saturday at 9 a.m. Information: (714) 531-1722.

* The Islamic Center of Mission Viejo, 23581 Madero Dr. Call for day and

times. Information: (949) 595-0480.

* Islamic Educational Center of Orange County, 3194-B Airport Loop Drive,

Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 432-0060.

* Masjid Lal-Ansar is holding prayers in the Sequoia Conference Center,

7530 Orangethorp Ave., Buena Park. Information: (714) 635-3113.

* The Islamic Institute of Orange County, 1221 Placentia Ave. Anaheim, on

Friday. Information: (714) 533-6271.