'Eid event's a party – who can argue with that?'

5 hours ago

Jenny Kirk,Peterboroughand

George King

Jenny Kirk/BBC A head and shoulders image of a man wearing glasses and a light coloured shirt. He is standing in a city centre square and looking into the camera smiling. Behind him are stalls and people walking around. — Organiser Nafis Lodhi said the festival had a "fantastic turnout"

Hundreds of people came together to commemorate the second of two significant Muslim festivals in the heart of Peterborough for the first time.

The inaugural Eid in the Square took place in Cathedral Square on Saturday, to mark end of Eid al-Adha.

The festival happens about two months after Eid al-Fitr in the final month of the Islamic calendar and during the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Organiser Nafis Lodhi, who has held previous Eid events in the city's Central Park, said the move to the city centre meant the celebration could be "much bigger" and "something special".

"This is about us reaching out to wider society and having that dialogue, enabling people to join in the celebration and share the joy," he said.

"Just like you have Christmas – everybody joins in and enjoys Christmas – you also have Eid, and everybody can enjoy Eid."

Jenny Kirk/BBC A large banner which reads Welcome to Eid in the Square attached to the bottom of what looks like an old building. — Eid events in Peterborough have taken place in the city for 15 years but this was the first time one has been held in Cathedral Square

This particular Eid celebration follows the end of the first, which comes after Ramadan, the month in which Muslims fast.

It coincides with the annual Hajj pilgrimage and Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son as proof of his devotion to God.

"A key part of the celebration is making sure people who are less well-off receive the joy of the Eid, gifts and food," added Lodhi.

"I know sometimes it can feel like society is pulling itself apart, but we've had really good feedback, and most are very decent people and want to see the celebration.

"We definitely will do it again this year if we get the opportunity. It's a big party, and who can argue with the party?"

Jenny Kirk/BBC A head and shoulders image of a woman wearing a headscarf with glasses on her head. She is standing in a city centre square and looking into the camera smiling. Behind him are stalls and people walking around. — Salma Yaqoob hopes events like Eid in the Square will show people who follow other religions that Muslims are just like everybody else

Eid in Peterborough originally started on a grass verge in the city in 2011 and has since grown into a large event with stalls, music and food.

Co-organiser Salma Yaqoob said moving the celebration into the square was a "great opportunity" to show the city that Muslims "like to have a good time as well".

"We like to celebrate, just like everybody else does, and we like to be with our friends, family, eat, have a nice drink, and have a bit of entertainment," she said.

"People have been asking why we have not done this [in the square] before, and maybe we should have done it sooner.

"It's a great opportunity for Muslims to come together and take the celebration on a bit more."

Do you have a story suggestion for Peterborough? Contact us below.

Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.