Kishorgonj, Mar 31 (V7N)- The historic Sholakia Eidgah Maidan in Kishoreganj once again turned into a sea of worshippers as the country’s largest Eid-ul-Fitr congregation was held on Monday with the highest security measures in place. This year marked the 198th Eid congregation at Sholakia, attracting devotees from across the country and beyond.

Deputy Commissioner Fauzia Khan confirmed that more than six lakh devotees gathered at Sholakia to offer their Eid prayers, making it one of the most significant religious gatherings in Bangladesh.

From two days before Eid until Monday morning, thousands of devotees began arriving at Sholakia Maidan. By 8:30 am, the ground was packed with worshippers, and as the prayers commenced at 10:00 am, the crowd overflowed onto adjacent streets, rooftops, riverbanks, and ghats of the Narsunda River.

To participate in this historic prayer, many devotees spent the night at the homes of relatives, residential hotels, mosques, and even the Eidgah grounds. Thousands traveled to Kishoreganj in the early hours of the morning using trains, buses, trucks, microbuses, rickshaws, motorcycles, bicycles, and even on foot, all with one destination in mind—Sholakia Eidgah.

Following the traditional custom, the start of the Eid prayer was signaled by the firing of shotgun shells in three intervals—five minutes, three minutes, and one minute before the prayer began.

At the end of the congregation, special prayers were offered for the peace, prosperity, and well-being of the Muslim Ummah, including Bangladesh. This year, prayers were especially dedicated to the people of Palestine, reflecting solidarity with the suffering Muslim community.

The Sholakia Eidgah has a rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was established by Dewan Haibat Khan Bahadur, a descendant of Masnad. Over time, the name evolved to Sholakia, and today, it remains an iconic place of worship where more than two lakh people pray inside the main ground while over six lakh devotees join the prayers from the surrounding areas.

END/MSS/AJ