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| Thousands gather in parks to celebrate Eid | Thousands gather in parks to celebrate Eid |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Saleem Ahmed said prayers would be followed by picnics and family fun | Saleem Ahmed said prayers would be followed by picnics and family fun |
| Tens of thousands of worshippers are gathering to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid-al-Adha. | Tens of thousands of worshippers are gathering to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid-al-Adha. |
| The date marks the end of Hajj, an annual pilgrimage made to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. | The date marks the end of Hajj, an annual pilgrimage made to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. |
| About 10,000 people will take part in outdoor prayers and celebrations in Small Heath Park, Birmingham. | About 10,000 people will take part in outdoor prayers and celebrations in Small Heath Park, Birmingham. |
| "There'll be messages about community unity and showing the best of character," said head of operations Saleem Ahmed. | "There'll be messages about community unity and showing the best of character," said head of operations Saleem Ahmed. |
| "There's a really great spirit when it comes to Eid," he added. | "There's a really great spirit when it comes to Eid," he added. |
| Participants like Maryam, 9, pictured with dad Surak and brother Nabil,11, could enjoy ice cream and a funfair following prayers at Small Heath park | |
| Families typically spend the day together, eating and celebrating | |
| Staging the family-friendly event is a group effort involving about 100 volunteers, said organisers. | Staging the family-friendly event is a group effort involving about 100 volunteers, said organisers. |
| "Before this Eid we've been worshipping, fasting, giving to charity and now this is a day of celebration and community for everybody to get together," said Kamran Hussain, CEO of Green Lane mosque. | "Before this Eid we've been worshipping, fasting, giving to charity and now this is a day of celebration and community for everybody to get together," said Kamran Hussain, CEO of Green Lane mosque. |
| Praying outside is a "prophetic tradition", which gives a sense of unity, he added. | Praying outside is a "prophetic tradition", which gives a sense of unity, he added. |
| Haniya Adam, also from Green Lane mosque, said the multi-generation event gave her a "spiritual boost". | Haniya Adam, also from Green Lane mosque, said the multi-generation event gave her a "spiritual boost". |
| "It is a really blessed day and I'm so blessed to be here," she said. | "It is a really blessed day and I'm so blessed to be here," she said. |
| Others described the event as a "highlight of the year", filled with friends, family and "a lot of food". | Others described the event as a "highlight of the year", filled with friends, family and "a lot of food". |
| Afghan Munir Ahmad, second right, said he was celebrating his first Eid away from home | |
| Participant Munir Ahmad, who has lived in the UK for two months, said he had mixed feelings at spending his first Eid away from his home in Afghanistan. | Participant Munir Ahmad, who has lived in the UK for two months, said he had mixed feelings at spending his first Eid away from his home in Afghanistan. |
| "I'm far from my family [but] happy that I feel freedom here," he said. | "I'm far from my family [but] happy that I feel freedom here," he said. |
| Eid events are taking place across the region over coming days, including in Coventry's Stoke Heath Park. | Eid events are taking place across the region over coming days, including in Coventry's Stoke Heath Park. |
| West Midlands Police said it would put on extra patrols in Ladypool Road, Coventry Road and Alum Rock Road to ensure people could "celebrate safely". | West Midlands Police said it would put on extra patrols in Ladypool Road, Coventry Road and Alum Rock Road to ensure people could "celebrate safely". |
| The increased presence follows previous complaints about illegal trading, and antisocial behaviour during Ramadan, the force added. | The increased presence follows previous complaints about illegal trading, and antisocial behaviour during Ramadan, the force added. |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk |
| . | . |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Small Heath | Small Heath |
| Eid al-Adha | Eid al-Adha |
| Birmingham | Birmingham |
| Coventry | Coventry |
| Islam | Islam |
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