Altar- Bilal Manzer

Hi, my name is Bilal Manzer and my altar or ofrenda is "Healthcare Workers Are Our Heroes". My ofrenda honors the healthcare workers who are risking their lives for the sake of society during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Healthcare workers are dealing with an excessive amount of stress and are underappreciated by the public as numerous individuals forego the recommended precautions to help our community stay safe. My ofrenda is divided into three parts with the bottom level containing a vase with flowers and a picture of a healthcare worker. The flowers and picture symbolize the love and care these workers demonstrate in protecting the public. The first level contains the elements of fire and earth with a medical mask and scented candle symbolizing the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and martyrdom of the brave healthcare workers who died fighting against the virus. The top level contains the elements of water and wind or air with hand sanitizer and a tissue. The hand sanitizer symbolizes protection against COVID-19 and the tissue resembles how the virus is a respiratory infection of the body. All of these components collectively signify the importance of healthcare workers and why they should be more appreciated.