Celebrate the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, with this fantastic free event in Trafalgar Square. Eid In The Square is a joyous celebration of Muslim culture with music, dance, food & drink, and a whole host of activities for the family to enjoy.
These include souks, bazaars, market stalls, live poetry and displays of Islamic art. Past events have seen a wide variety of live music performances too, with rock bands, folk singers, instrumentalists and the occasional choir.
The event is open to all, with a wide cross section of Londoners turning out annually to enjoy the celebrations. Organised by the Mayor of London’s office, the festival is a great reminder of the diversity of the UK’s capital city and its large Muslim community.
One of the largest celebrations of its kind in Europe, Eid In The Square has grown dramatically since the inaugural event in 2006, with crowds now regularly topping 25,000. The Muslim Council of Britain’s Secretary General Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari said of the event, “Muslim Londoners are rightly proud of London’s success story and long may it continue.”
Timed to mark the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, Eid In The Square takes place on the first Saturday after the holy day. Eid is one of the most important events in the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslim communities all over the world. Coming after Ramadan and marking the first day of Shawwal – the tenth month of the Islamic calendar – Eid is sandwiched between two long periods of fasting.
This is because many Muslims choose to fast on the six days following Eid, which means that they fast for a total of 36 days out of 37. However, in Islam, these 36 days are the equivalent of fasting for a whole year. This is because a good deed in Islam is rewarded 10 times over.
Eid In The Square will take place on the 2020. More information about the event can be found here.
For information on other great events in London, please click here.
