LONDON, Oct 12 (APP)- The London City Government together with Muslim organisations arranged a festival at the famous Trafalgar Square to mark the celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr. It was the third time that Eid celebrations have taken place in city’s iconic tourist attraction and thousands attended the celebrations on Saturday.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson spoke on the occasion and said: “Unity and peace are key themes of Ramadan and Eid celebrations, and this festival has brought together people from all parts of London and the world to enjoy the celebrations, whilst being reminded of universal human values such compassion and charity.”
He said the event has also given Londoners of all backgrounds the opportunity to join the Muslim community in experiencing the cultural richness and diversity of Islam. The celebrations included artists representing many of London’s Muslim communities.
This year’s Eid in the Square included traditional music and music with contemporary influences. Many of the artists sought to imbue their performances with some personal expression or spiritual meaning.
Performers include Aa’shiq Al-Rasul, which started as a Nasheed group ten years ago, and have made six albums, Amir Awan, the composer, singer and song writer from North London, whose music focused upon spiritual reflection, and from Shahid Falahi, an established performer from the Bangladeshi community who aims to revive the Islamic spirit through songs, drama and literature.
The Pearls of Islam were two young females artists who combined traditional instruments, such as the dumbek and the djmebe, with modern rap, poetry, or nasheeds, and created a unique mixture of sound that was enjoyed by people of all ages and musical tastes.
The Khayaal Theatre Company offered the crowds a fascinating experience of Muslim world culture through contemporary art forms. Khayaal created its own special brand of entertainment that involved touches of wisdom and humour which won it popular acclaim amongst audiences of all faiths and cultures.
The four-hour festival also featured food and goods from street bazaar, plus exhibitions and displays about Islam. Partners for the event included Muslim Council of Britain, Transport for London, Muslim Aid and Islamic Relief.
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