Thousands of British Muslims celebrated Eid ul fitr in the open at Lampton park, borough of Hounslow. The festival featured Eid prayer, family funfair, barbecue, varieties of stalls, traditional henna painting and children entertainment programs.
Ruth Cadbury MP for Brentford and Isleworth joined the Muslim communities in celebrating Eid ul Fitr and spoke to more than 5,000 participants at the festival. She mingled and engaged with the participant and wished them a happy. The Brentford and Isleworth MP said “I am very pleased to be here and to see so many people from so many communities coming together to celebrate Eid, the main festival of Islam. We are blessed in Hounslow to have so many people living here from all over the world with different faiths, different cultures and who live together in peace, and learning and sharing from each other. I am so pleased to be a part of the community today, and I hope you all have a wonderful blessed day and good luck for the year ahead.” She also thanked the Muslim community in Hounslow particularly the Somali community for their good work in the local community.
Muslim communities from the Pakistani, Bangladeshi,Sirilankan, Arabian, and Somali backgrounds took part in this event. “All the Hyderabadi community are here today” said a hayderbadi member and added ” it is a good occasion once a year to celebrate Eid at Lampton Park.
Mr Aynte the operation Director of Al furqan Education Trust said ” this is the 6th event we have hosted in the open for the Muslim communities in hounslow areas, an estimated 6,000 people took part in the festival Eid at Lampton park. This year we had two slots for prayers after due to large turn up.”
Mr Mohamed Qaladid a member of the Al Furqan Charity trustee said “the Eid event is increasing every year and becoming more popular. The event is not just for the somali community, it is for all of the muslims and the community at large. We are very delighted that all our communities have come together to celebrate Eid.” The former Mayor of Hounslow Councillor Nasir Malik was one of the attendees who prayed at Lampton Park.
A similiar event took place at Ealing common park that was co-organised by Quba and Darusalam mosques. The Eid in the open is gaining more popularity among the British communities in the UK.
Mustafa Hassan Ibrahim
Filmmaker and Community Activisit
