Prayers and playtime in park
FAMILIES, FRIENDS FINALLY TOGETHER AT EID FESTIVAL FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2019
FAMILIES and friends were finally able to celebrate Eid yesterday as Leicester’s “major” Eid Festival went ahead for the first time since 2019.
Due to the pandemic, the last three Eid events hosted at Victoria Park had been cancelled, including one earlier this year for Eid ulFitr.
But organisers announced that this week’s event could go ahead.
From 8am yesterday, Muslims gathered for Eid prayers in the park followed by a funfair, food and family activities, hosted by On the Scene Events Management.
A separate prayer service was also held in Spinney Hill Park.
Gregory Griffiths, the event director, said: “It’s definitely been a long 18 months for the events industry and more so for the festival.
“It’s been a long-established event and it’s held very closely by the Muslim community in Leicester. So to be able to be held today, in partnership with the organising mosque and the city council, is absolutely phenomenal.”
Although organisers expected a large turnout for morning prayers, there was initially some uncertainty about whether people
would stick around to enjoy the festivities.
But, having missed out on three previous events, people turned up in their hundreds to mark the occasion.
Gregory added that many people in attendance made an effort to socially distance where possible, despite the Covid restrictions being lifted from Monday.
With temperatures soaring amid the current heatwave in England, many families enjoyed cooling refreshments including ice creams, fruit cups and slushies being sold at the festival.
Shaheen, one of the festival vendors
was selling sweets at a notfor-profit stall. She was joined by her daughters who had enjoyed a day of fun and face painting.
She told the Mercury: “We’ve enjoyed it, we knew the fair was happening in the local park so we thought let’s do something for charity and give back to the community.
“It’s been nice to get out and talk to people and be in a different environment and setting and the kids have had a lovely day as well.”
Like many people at the festival, Shaheen looked forward to an evening of festivities continued at home with her family.