Manitoba's Muslim community gathered this weekend for an afternoon of shopping, celebration, and preparation for the upcoming holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

The Pre-Eid Bazaar took place Saturday at the Winnipeg Grand Mosque as local Muslim-owned businesses sold clothing, jewelry, and food while attendees perused the marketplace.

"The community is eager to get together, to celebrate, to talk about Ramadan and the celebration of Eid," said Ruheen Aziz with the Manitoba Islamic Association (MIA).

"It's almost like shopping for Christmas," said Aziz. "They get to buy clothes, they get to buy jewelry they get to buy some food for tonight."

Eid al-Fitr - also known as the Festival of Sweets - marks the end of Ramadan, when Muslims fast between dawn and sunset for a month.

"We have Eid, where people celebrate breaking the fast," said Raed Hamdan, owner of Party Social. "So this event is like a preparation for Eid. The community comes here, small businesses come here, and they sell their products."

Aziz was at the bazaar promoting the MIA's sixth annual toy drive, also happening at the Waverley Mosque from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 16.
"The youth run this event every year, we look for toys for anyone up to the age of 16," she said.
 
Eid al-Fitr marks the last day of the fasting month of Ramadan. Muslims mark the occasion with prayer, charity activities and feasts with family members, relatives and friends.