The Hamidiye Mosque in Willingboro, New Jersey, recently opened its garden to the Turkish American community for a festival that turned into a day out for families from across the region.
Children were the focus of the day. Inflatable bounce houses and slides were set up on the lawn, and kids spent hours playing while parents caught up over tables set out in the garden. Volunteers served food throughout the event.
Organizers said the festival was meant to bring Turkish families living in different parts of the area together and to strengthen the community’s cultural ties and to deepen friendships among them.
Embassy counselor attends
Among the guests was Associate Professor Fatih Kanca, the religious services counselor at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, whose visit was warmly welcomed by the mosque’s board and congregation.
After the event, the Hamidiye Mosque Association thanked Kanca, the volunteers and everyone who attended. “Thank God, we held our festival with great participation and in a beautiful spirit of togetherness,” the association said in a written statement. “May God make our unity lasting. We hope to meet again at our next festival.”
More than a place of worship
Across the United States, Turkish mosques serve as community centers as well as places of prayer, organizing festivals, classes and gatherings that help families stay connected and give children and young people a link to Turkish culture. The Willingboro festival was the latest example, ending with organizers promising to bring the community together again.
