Cardinal Oswald Gracias, head of the Catholic Church in India, was the chief guest of the Eid Milap Function organized by Jamiat-ul-Ulema in New Delhi Eid Milan.

The religious festival after Ramadan was celebrated at the National Level on June 10. It was organized by Jamat Ulamai Hind, one of the biggest Muslim congregations in India.

Given below is the text of Cardinal Gracias’ address at the event:

At this moment, as we celebrate Eid Milan, we feel a strong bond of affection and unity among us all. God has brought us all together this evening, to celebrate this function. You have just completed your month of fasting Ramadan, this fasting has helped you to spend time, re-connecting with God in prayer, strengthening your feelings of love for the needy with the practice of Zakaat, also bonded every family together.

Ramzan the month of fasting, has not been a month of pain, but a period of joy because you experience the Peace of God in your homes and in your persons. Your Ramadan fast, reminds me of our own Christian fast at the time of LENT. Lent is similar in many ways to Ramazan, Lent is a time, to set aside Time for God, to re-connect and bond with the sufferings of Jesus Christ who was crucified on the CROSS, to make reparation for our sins.