The Tavua Market Vendors Association management and market vendors yesterday celebrated Eid-ul-fitr at the market premises.

The celebration, a first of its kind for the vendors, was backed by the United Nations Women project, ‘Market for Change’ to show market vendors they also deserve to host collaborated celebrations as did the corporate organisations during festivals.

The UN Women, national project co-ordinator for the Western Division, Mouna Peters, said: “The market is a workplace for vendors and they should also gather to celebrate such occasions. It’s something like what businesses hold to mark celebrations and this is a move towards standardizing the markets.”

She was happy to note the progress made by the association within the market since the launch of the project.

“It’s good to witness the vendors taking initiatives to organise such an event. We look forward to more of such events with the market vendors,” she said.

Association president Abdul Azim was grateful the celebration was backed and supported by the market vendors and the United Nations.

“This was the first time we organised an event and we will continue to make it bigger and better,” Mr Azim said.

Ba Town Council’s chief executive officer, Dip Narayan, said the initiative was good and he appreciated how people gathered in unity to celebrate regardless of the various religious backgrounds.

He urged that more events of such nature be celebrated so that people could learn and appreciate other cultures and religion as well.

More than 100 market vendors were part of the function even while doing business.

It was also a moment of learning health tips with a private doctor, Dr Muang Muang Mon, who talked to the vendors about non-communicable diseases.

He urged the people to stay healthy and include more fruits and vegetables in their diet to avoid such diseases, which was a growing concern here.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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