Eid celebrations away from home is not the same. Celebration varies from country to country. The vibration depends largely on the size and concentration of diaspora, as well.
We have a large diaspora in the United Kingdom and a big portion (about 30%) of them are spread across the North-east, North-west and North UK including Scotland. This vast area is covered by Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Manchester (BAHC).
We, the BAHC family joins with the Bangladesh-heritage population in North in Eid celebrations. There are several Bangladeshi-diaspora hotspots such as Oldham, Rochdale, Rusholme, Hyde, Burnley etc. in and around Greater Manchester.
Bradford, Sheffield, Scunthorpe, Sunderland, Tees Valley, New Castle, Whitly Bay etc. in Northeast. And Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee in Scotland. Almost all of these communities have their community mosques and centres.
These mosques are basically the centers for Eid congregation, celebration and exchanges. Our Eid begins, practically, through the congregation in the morning. Many of the mosques allow or have arrangements for women congregation.
Therefore, the congregation turns a major occasion for the entire community to get together and exchange greetings.
Shops for buying traditional Eid dresses and Eid groceries are abundant in almost all the areas/cities of our community concentrations. Eid shopping begins since the beginning of Ramadan and runs through the Moon-sighting evening. Many also brings dresses back from Bangladesh if the circumstances permit.
Our diaspora in the UK consists of even 4th/5th generation of UK-born Bangladeshi-descendants and a majority are from greater Sylhet region. Therefore, Eid celebrations here, consists of elements of Sylheti traditions.
The depth of celebration often depends on the strength of bondage with the roots, as well.
BAHC family hosts open house to celebrate Eid together and exchange greetings. The Assistant High Commissioner joins one of the largest Eid congregations in Manchester.
The largest Eid congregation by British-Bangladeshi diaspora is the one held at Oldham Central Mosque (over three thousand people can gather at a time). The AHC, after the prayers, exchange greetings with the community members.
Community organizations organize Eid reunions in different parts of the North-UK in which the AHC or his representative attends to share the joys of Eid.
Muslims being a minority (approximately 6%) in the UK society, Eid neither comes in its full package nor as boundless as back in Bangladesh. There is no public holidays on the occasion of Eid.
Therefore, Muslims have to take special leave from work and the children have to take a day off from school. Both the arrangements somewhat impacting either the work or study.
A big number miss part of their families and friends that they left in Bangladesh, on such special days. Therefore, Eid never comes in its full beyond the seas. Something somewhere is always missing!
Mohammad Jobayed Hosen is the Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Manchester, UK
