27th New York Muslim Day Parade

19th October, 2009.

The 27th Annual Muslim Day Parade took place, and as I was in New York I couldn't miss that.

The participants assembled on Madison Avenue and 41st street. School buses arrived with young Muslim students holding banners representing their schools and others holding flags representing their countries.

I went to the parade with very promising young filmmakers, Musa Syeed and Bassam Tariq. Bassam Tariq works in advertising (and has done several commercials in US) and Musa is the co-producer of A Son's Sacrifice (Best Short Documentary). His most recent film, Bronx Princess, aired nationally in the US last month.


Initially, I went there to join Musa whilst making a documentary about Salim Ejaz. Salim is a professional accountant(CPA), who is a candidate for New York City Comptroller. But, as I arrived at the parade, and saw all the different ethnicity which were participating, I was quite amazed and was more focused on the parade than Salim himself. No offense...

People from Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Senegal, Indonesia, Morocco, Vietnam, and several other ethnicity participates. I felt really inspired to see so many of us in one place representing the same message. 

Before we started the parade, Dhuhr was performed in the middle of Madison Avenue.



After performing Dhuhr, the parade was started. The New York Police Department also assembled with their musical instruments and all the schools were lined up.



The parade finished at the Madison Square Park, where a stage and food-stalls were setup. Other stalls represented their institute, school, and other religious organizations.



On stage were Imam Zaid Shakir (Zaytuna Institute), Shamsi Ali (Indonesian Imam), Robina Niaz (runs shelter for abused women), and other great personalities.



It was a very nice parade to experience. I didn't expect at first to see this many ethnicity to show up. Insh'Allah, I hope to take part in this next year, and if anybody happens to be in New York around October, definitely try to attend it. Some more pictures I took, first time taking pictures at an event, pretending being a prof...


(Sisters getting ready to start parade)


(It was a cold day)


(Salim Ejaz listening to Imam Zaid Shakir)


(Brother Gareth Bryant saluting England)