Weather willing, Red Road Eid namaz set for Brigade shift

Kolkata: If weather permits, the venue for Kolkata's annual Eid-uz-Zuha prayers may shift from Red Road to Brigade Parade Ground this year, with Kolkata Police and the organisers holding a series of meetings over crowd management and traffic movement ahead of the May 28 congregation. The development came days after Kolkata Police requested the members of the Calcutta Khilafat Committee to consider alternative locations close to Red Road for the Eid prayers. The organisers and police officers met earlier this week to discuss possible arrangements, including Brigade Parade Ground, Shahid Minar ground and the Gangasagar Mela ground.Lalbazar has decided to finalise the Eid namaz prayer venue at the Brigade Parade Ground. A highly placed source told TOI that the necessary NOC from the Army, the custodian of the Maidan, has been received. "We are trying to arrange the prayers at the Brigade that can accommodate all the worshippers. However, given the erratic weather, we are worried about the slush that might accumulate if it rains. Hence, a final decision is pending as we might need to keep an alternative venue ready too," said a top official. Nasir Ahmed, secretary of the Calcutta Khilafat Committee, which organises the prayers every year, said they were still awaiting formal communication from the authorities. "We are yet to receive a final confirm-ation from the authorities," said Ahmed. A committee member, who did not wish to be named, said: "A few locations were discussed, including the Brigade Parade Ground. We had a few observations, which we have shared with the authorities."The police said that they were in touch with the organisers. "So far, the interactions have been fruitful. We realise that their concerns are genuine and we are looking for practical solutions," said an officer.Joint police commissioner (headquarters) Sudip Sarkar said they were close to locking the venue. "Discussions have been fruitful and a few necessary permissions have come. However, there still needs to be some discussions. We will let you know when a decision is finalised," said Sarkar. The police have decided to provide adequate security and traffic support. "We will be helping the devotees to reach the venue as this might be a new one for them," said a traffic cop. For decades, prayers for Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-uz-Zuha, have been organised on Red Road after obtaining permission from the Army. The congregation, among the largest in eastern India, was disrupted only during the Covid years. Every year, organisers coordinate with Kolkata Police for security arrangements, traffic regulation and crowd movement after securing permission from the Army authorities. The change in location for prayers is being done in the backdrop of recent administrative directives issued by the newly elected govt regarding public religious gatherings. During a meeting with senior police officers last week, the govt directed police to ensure that loudspeaker sound did not travel beyond religious precincts and that congregations did not block roads or inconvenience the public, except on special occasions.