Blackburn Rovers is set to become the first football club to host Eid prayers at their stadium.

To celebrate Ramadan which is due to end during the May Bank Holiday weekend, Eid prayers will take place from 9am at Ewood Park. 

For a number of years, Rovers have sponsored the annual Eid in the Park festival, which is held at Corporation Park in the town and the club says it is ‘delighted to show further support by hosting this year’s Eid day prayer’.

The club said the special celebration, which is expected to attract over 1,000 people of all ages is part of a series of upcoming Ewood events which fall under the club’s #OneRovers umbrella, including Let’s Go Sing, which takes place on Thursday April 28th, and the three-day SummerFest concert at the end of May.

‘Eid Prayers @ Ewood Park’ is open to all families, with provisions in place for both men and women to pray on the pitch. Those who attend are asked to bring their own prayer mat with them.

Complimentary bus transport from Corporation Park and Queen’s Park will be available, subject to demand, whilst refreshments will be provided after the event by The Catering Co.

An Eid in the Park festival at Corporation Park for families will be held days later on Saturday May 7 and Sunday May 8, where Blackburn Rovers and Blackburn Rovers Community Trust staff will once again be in attendance.

The announcement came during a week when the Blackburn Rovers Community Trust partnered with Asda and Benefit Mankind to distribute 200 food hampers to vulnerable families during the month of Ramadan.  The club had run a similar initiative during Christmas by aiming to support those most in need within the local community.

For any enquiries about ‘Eid Prayers @ Ewood Park’ you can email eid@rovers.co.uk

Lancashire Telegraph:

When happens on Eid

There are two Eid festivals the first of which celebrates the end of Ramadan the holy month when Muslims fast from dawn till dusk.

Morning Eid prayers are held at mosques and open spaces. In Birmingham thousands head to the city’s park to perform Eid prayers making it the largest open air gathering of its kind in the UK.

In Blackburn, Eid prayers have been held at Corporation Park in recent years with sections for both male and females.

Due to the large numbers of people attending a number of mosques will host several sermons and prayers some as early as 6am.

On Eid morning following prayers many people will head to the cemetery to pay their respects to loved ones and those who are able to be with us at this special time.