This heartwarming series of pictures shows more than 100,000 Muslims gathering together in a British park for the largest Eid celebration of its kind in Europe.
Following a religious month of dawn-to-dusk fasting for Ramadan, worshippers from around the world convened on Small Heath Park in Birmingham, England for the “Festival of Breaking the Fast.”
The festival, which typically lasts three days, is traditionally celebrated by giving food to the poor and meeting with friends and family in order to congratulate one another and exchange sweets.
Organizers said over 106,000 people attended this year’s event – which is more than the capacity of Barcelona FC’s Nou Camp stadium.
The “Celebrate Eid” event, hosted by Green Lane Masjid and Community Center, is now in its seventh year and has seen growing numbers since its first major event in 2012 when 12,000 people attended.
Last year 140,000 Muslims took part in the celebrations.
A spokesperson for Green Lane Masjid and Community Center, 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’re all overwhelmed that so many people from different faiths and from across the world have travelled to Birmingham for this year’s ‘Celebrate Eid’.
Families – some who had travelled to Birmingham from as far as the USA – got to their knees in unison for morning prayers at 9am.
