Middlesex Cricket were delighted to join members of the Muslim community at Hounslow Jamia Masjid last weekend to celebrate the recent Mosque Eid al-Adha Mela with a showcase of cricket.
With over 1,000 visitors attending the Eid Mela in the Mosque car park it was yet another great platform for the Club to engage with the local Hounslow community through our fun-filled cricket activation zone, with all cricket activities delivered by the Club’s Participation Team.
Alongside the cricket activities, there were a number of other family activities taking place on the day of celebration, including a mini-fun fare for the adrenaline thrill seekers, traditional henna hand painting, and a wonderful spread of mouth-watering home cooked biryanis on offer for guests to tuck into.
The cricket activation zone proved very popular with both children and adults alike, taking part in target bowling and catching competitions.
Commenting on the successful event, Middlesex Cricket Participation Manager, Mash Mehter said
“Hounslow Jamia Masjid is the heart of the local Muslim community, and we were thrilled to be asked to join in this incredible community celebration.
“It was great to see so many people from all ages taking part in the cricket activation zone, and it was wonderful to see so many young children smiling and laughing as they played the game.
“It’s seeing children having a great time that makes our roles in the Participation Team so rewarding when we’re out and about in the communities around Middlesex delivering our sessions, and to learn that some of the children taking part at the weekend were experiencing cricket for the very first time made it even more so. You leave at the end of the day feeling like you’ve done a good day’s work and that you’ve really helped to make a difference.
“Our thanks go to all at the Hounslow Jamia Masjid for allowing us to be with them on their special day and for allowing us to deliver our cricket session at the Mosque.
“Whilst we may see the Mosque as a ‘non-traditional’ cricket setting, for local Muslims it is right at the heart of their community, so for us to be able to deliver our sessions there, where members of the local community feel comfortable and at ease, really makes a huge difference.
“We look forward to continuing to work with community groups and places of worship, like the Hounslow Mosque, as we continue to reach out to all communities within Middlesex in our quest to make cricket a game for all.
“It’s been a real pleasure working with the Hounslow Jamia Masjid since they became one of our Core City Delivery Hubs and we look forward to many more successful cricket sessions with them and members of their community in the years to come.”
