After a two years break Green Lane Mosque will be holding two Eid celebrations in Small Heath Park and Edgbaston Stadium
Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre (GLMCC) will be holding two Eid celebrations in Small Heath Park and Edgbaston Stadium for Eid al-Fitr, this May 2022. The event in Small Heath Park has not been held for the past 2 years since 2019, due to Covid-19. This is also the first time Eid al-Fitr would be performed at the Edgbaston grounds.
Eid is expected to fall on either Sunday 1st May or Monday 2nd May, based on the sighting of the new crescent moon.
There will be wet weather contingency for prayers indoor at Green Lane Masjid, if the weather does not permit prayers to be held outside.
Eid at Small Heath Park
Eid at Small Heath Park will be held with an expected turnout of around 20,000 people, a significant reduction when compared to the 60,000 attendees in pre-Covid years. These measures are in consideration of public health and a steady return to the large celebrations of previous years. People are expected to arrive from 8:00am with the prayer to begin at 9:30am.
There will be activities at Small Heath Park, including the regular Robert Wilkinson Fun-Fair at the Park, for families to enjoy after prayers have concluded.
Saleem Ahmed, project manager for Eid in the Park said,
“Eid is a joyous occasion, where Muslims come together to celebrate, spend time with family and worship as a community. It is a relief to have such an important celebration return to some normality after such a long time.”
Eid at the Edgbaston Stadium
grounds will be held with 2,000 people in attendance, and online registration will be required. The event is in partnership with Warwickshire County Cricket Club (WCCC). Stuart Cain, CEO of Edgbaston Stadium commented:
“We want Edgbaston to be a hub for the local community which hosts multiple cultural events and festivities throughout the year, in addition to our programme of cricket. We’re therefore thrilled to have developed the partnership with Green Lane Masjid and to host prayers for the second consecutive year on the Colts Ground.
“By being able to accommodate up to 2,000 friends of Green Lane Masjid, we’ve quadrupled the size of the attendance for the Eid ul Adha prayers in July 2021. However, we’re committed to working with Kamran and his team to see how we can continue to develop the event each year and ensure that Edgbaston truly reflects the communities that we serve.”
Kamran Hussain, CEO of Green Lane Masjid commented:
“As a leading mosque in Birmingham and the UK, Green Lane Masjid consider WCCC as one of our key partners. We have worked with the Edgbaston team on a number of projects and have been impressed by their professionalism and genuine commitment to support the local community.”
At Edgbaston, there will also be a special Eid Lunch celebration for new Muslims, arranged by Islamwise, a new Muslim support organisation. Adil Saleem, a Chaplain at the University of Birmingham, who is project managing the event for Green Lane Masjid commented:
“Eid can be a lonely time for some, particularly those who don’t have a wide Muslim family network. This will be a wonderful event, giving them a greater sense of community and belonging.”
People are expected to arrive from 7:45am for Eid at Edgbaston Stadium, with the prayer to begin at 8:30am.
Activities at Edgbaston Stadium will include stalls, food and cricket coaching for children. Attendees are encouraged to stay for the duration of the morning to enjoy the festivities.