Crowds turn out for Eid prayers in Blackburn park

The event was due to take place at Ewood Park, the home of Blackburn Rovers this morning (Saturday July 9) but a ‘wet pitch’ meant the prayers were switched to Corporation Park.

The second Eid celebration of the year - Eid-Ul-Adha, follows the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The first Eid marking the end of Ramadan.

Following an early morning pitch inspection Rovers announced that prayers would be cancelled at their stadium.

Organisers quickly made plans for the tradtional prayers to take place at Corporation Park – a location used for the past few years. 

Since it began the event has grown and this year organisers could boast their largest crowd at the park.

Among the guests this year was Sheikh Hani Saad Al Azhari, Imam Of Al Azhar University Of Egypt who had travelled from Leicester for the morning prayers.

Ayub Din attended the event with his family. He said: “It was a lovely to see so many people from so many backgrounds. 

“Blackburn is such a vibrant place with so many people from across the world and you don’t tend to see this when you go to your local mosque. Look around here and there are black, white and Arab people. It is amazing to see.”

Eid prayers at Ewood Park cancelled due to ‘wet pitch’

Ismael was at his first event, “We normally go to our local mosque but with the good weather we thought we would come here.

“There was a lot more people here and the best thing is the female members of my family could attend too.

“Normally, they don’t come but they loved it.”

Whilst some Muslims were celebrating on Saturday others will do on Sunday.

Tayab added: “It is shame we are not all celebrating Eid on one day. But it is wonderful to see so many people from across the town here.

“I was looking forward to praying at Ewood Park as I missed the last one. But like they say it does not matter where you pray as long as you are with the people you love.”

Video Footage courtesy of Shakil Salam