Eid in the Square: Muslim celebration of Eid ul-fitr in Trafalgar Square, London

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Eid in the Square: festival in Trafalgar Square to celebrate Eid ul-fitr

The pictures below were taken at Eid in the Square on Saturday 28th October 2006 (from 1-5pm). This was a celebration of the Muslim festival of Eid ul-fitr ("breaking of the fast"), which comes at the end of the month of Ramadan. 2006 was the first time that this event had taken place in London's Trafalgar Square, but it is planned to become an annual fixture. One in twelve Londoners is Muslim.

About 10 weeks later there is another Eid festival known as Eid ul-Adha ("the festival of sacrifice"). This marks the completion of the Hajj, which is when many Muslims make a pilgrimage to the Saudi Arabian holy city of Mecca (Makkah).

Trafalgar Square

The logo for this event

The stage

Opening reading from the Qur'an

PRESENTERS

BBC London's TV presenter
Assad Ahmad

Co-presenter (from the
Muslim Council of Britain)

SPEECHES

The event started with a number of short speeches by politicians and Muslim officials. Eid in the Square was organised jointly by the Mayor of London and the Muslim Council of Britain.

Ken Livingstone
(Mayor of London)

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari (Secretary
General of the Muslim Council of Britain)

Michael O'Brien
(Labour MP)

Lord Sheikh
(Conservative peer)

Simon Hughes
(Liberal Democrat MP)

SAMI YUSUF

Sami Yusuf is a popular nasheed singer. He could not attend the festival, but a video of one of his songs was shown on a giant screen in the square.

Sami Yusuf

This 10-year old girl performed two songs which she had written together with her father.

MESSAGE CULTURAL GROUP

NAZEEL AZAMI

MECCA2MEDINA

Mecca2Medina are an Islamic rap act.

SHAHID FALAHI

SHAAM

CLOSING PRAYERS

A closing prayer was made on the stage. After the event had finished many members of the audience went to a praying area set up in the square. People wash (as an act of purification), place down a prayer mat, then remove their shoes before kneeling on the mat and praying. Muslims face towards Mecca (Makkah) in Saudi Arabia when praying. Men and women usually pray in separate areas.

FURTHER INFORMATION

This event was organised by:
- the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB): http://www.mcb.org.uk
- the Mayor of London: http://www.london.gov.uk
The main sponsor was Islamic Relief: http://www.islamic-relief.com

Music from some of the nasheed acts which performed can be purchased using these links:
Sami Yusuf: http://www.thenasheedshop.com/sami_yusuf.php
Nazeel Azami: http://www.thenasheedshop.com/artists/nazeel-azami.php
Mecca2Medina: http://www.thenasheedshop.com/mecca2medina.php
Shaam: http://www.thenasheedshop.com/shaam.php (see also: http://www.shaamgroup.com)

For more information about Islam and Muslim festivals, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam

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LINKS

Pakistan Independence Day festival: Ideas/Album/Pakistan-Independence-Day

Religion in the UK: Personal/Religion
Useful links for people in the UK from Arab League countries: Links/Arab
Useful links for Bangladeshi people in the UK: Links/Bangladesh
Useful links for Pakistani people in the UK: Links/Pakistan

Photos from other annual events: Ideas/Album
Trafalgar Square: Travel/Tours/London/TrafalgarSquare

Home page: Home

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