Eid Ul Fitr

This is a video collage of the Eid Prayer gathering at Red Road in Kolkata.



Sunday: October 14th, 2007

Eid Mubarak عيد مبارك

Eid Mubarak and warm greetings to my Muslim friends celebrating as we start the month of Shawwal!

Ah, how nice it was awaking to a warm cup of coffee and breakfast. Refreshing as it was to welcome the morning meal, I was off early yesterday morning to Red Road where people had already begun to gather for the largest gathering of Eid Prayers in Kolkata.

Though no government census is taken, I am guessing the numbers are in the hundreds of thousands.

For about half an hour the Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid gave a fiery sermon. Imploring the Muslim’s of Kolkata to rise up and be politically motivated in the coming elections and in light of current crises in the city which led to the murder of a young Muslim man (Rizwan) at the hands of Hindu’s. While there is an ongoing investigation, the media is pointing to the involvement of top police brass in the city. Anyhow, this was a large part of the Eid Khutba (sermon).

After the Khutba was completed a siren was sounded. Thus the Allahu Akbar’s began and the prayers were under way. Once the Eid Namaz was completed everyone arose to hug one another and offer hearty "Eid Mubarak’s." Much like Christian’s offering a Merry Christmas to others during the Holidays.

I will try to post more later, but wanted to put up a few photographs of the amazing gathering of Kolkata’s Muslim’s.

Here’s a first glimpse.

Iftar #2

I already posted a little about Iftar, but wanted to do so a second time after a great opportunity we had on Friday night. It was then we were invited to a special Iftar party with friends in the community. Here is a photo of the wonderful arrangement of food that the ladies prepared.


Along with the wonderful food, we had a great time of prayer and fellowship. It is such a joy to experience life in India. The rich cultural tradition, camaraderie and honour are both excellent and praiseworthy.

Adhan أَذَان 101

5 times a day from the minaret of the Mosque, all Muslim’s are called to prayer. This call is the "adhan." This adhan itself is recited by the Muezzin. It is as much a proclamation as it is a warning that prayers are about to begin.

The Muezzin is someone specifically tasked to give the adhan five times a day for Fardh (mandatory) prayers. Then, Muslim’s hearing the adhan respond by coming to the Mosque for prayer or beginning their ablutions from wherever they might be to begin their prayers.

Throughout the Muslim world, from Africa, Arabia, Central Asia, the Indian Sub-Continent and down through South Asia the adhan is given in Arabic. Even in Western nations this call is given daily in the Arabic language. During the course of the adhan, this is a translation of what is recited;

God is Great, God is Great!
I bear witness that there is no god but God x2
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God x2
Come to prayer x2
Come to your good x2
God is Great, God is Great!
There is no god but God!

Once everyone has arrived to the Mosque this call is given a second time within the Mosque. This second call is the Iqama. The iqama is recited in a lower monotone voice at a faster pace than the adhan. At this, the prayers begin.

Here is a short clip I saw on youtube that can give you a birds eye view of its sound…