140,000 Muslims gather in Birmingham for record-breaking Eid celebration
The mass gathering in Small Heath Park is the largest such event in Europe.
A record-breaking 140,000 Muslims have gathered in Europe’s largest such celebration to mark Eid.
The celebration to mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, has been taking place for each of the last seven years in Birmingham’s Small Heath Park.
Worshippers of all ages came together for morning prayers on Friday, before enjoying festivities including fairground rides, miniature golf and laser clay pigeon shooting.
A spokesman for the organisation said: “This celebration is one of the most important in the Islamic religious calendar and it’s an opportunity for us all to come together in peace and unity.
“We’ve been working for months with five local mosques and our charity partner Human Appeal to organise the community for a memorable day of prayer, games and fun.”
Ramadan is also a time for charitable giving, and the mosque and community centre said it had raised more than £1 million for the Saving Syria Project.
More than 200 volunteers are helping to clear up the park, once the festivities have concluded.
