EAST JERUSALEM — Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, arrived this year in a Middle East shadowed by the danger and disruption of war. In a rare confluence, Nowruz, the Persian new year, fell on the same day — making Friday a double holiday for many Iranians.
It’s a time when people are meant to be the best version of themselves. During Eid, Muslims celebrate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, a time of personal reflection and spiritual renewal. Nowruz, which marks the start of spring, is an annual triumph of light over darkness — a cultural rather than religious celebration.