Eid al-Adha in West Bengal took on an unusually subdued tone this year as the traditional congregational prayers on Kolkata’s Red Road did not take place. The event, historically central to the city’s Eid celebrations, was not permitted by the state’s BJP government under Chief Minister Suvendu. Instead, the main Eid prayers were held at the Brigade Parade Ground at 8:30 a.m., led by Imam Qari Fazlur Rahman. Attendance was significantly lower than usual, with only a few thousand participants compared to the typical one to two lakh worshippers. The festive enthusiasm was notably absent, and animal sacrifices across the state were largely suspended.

The Red Road Eid congregation has a long history dating back to the British era, when the Khilafat Committee initiated prayers there. Despite changes in governance, the tradition continued after India’s independence. The report also recalls the historical roots of Kolkata’s waqf properties, many of which are now encroached upon, and references the Sachar Committee’s unimplemented recommendations to use such assets for Muslim education and welfare.

The article reflects on Kolkata’s past interfaith harmony, contrasting it with the current atmosphere of melancholy and diminished communal spirit.