Eidgah: Difference between revisions

'''Eidgah''' or '''Idgah''', also '''Eid Gah''' or '''Id Gah''' ({{lang-fa|{{Nastaliq|عیدگاه}}}} "site of Eid [observances]"; {{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|عید گاہ}}}}; {{lang-hi|ईदगाह}}; {{lang-bn|ঈদগাহ}}) is a term used in [[Islam in South Asia|South Asian Islamic culture]] for the open-air enclosure usually outside the city (or at the outskirts) reserved for [[Eid prayers]] offered in the morning of [[Eid al-Fitr]] and [[Eid al-Adha]]. It is usually a public place that is not used for prayers at other times of the year.<ref>{{cite news |title= Special prayers in Idgah seeking divine blessings, eternal peace|url= http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/10/stories/2010091057440200.htm|newspaper= The Hindu|access-date=9 February 2012}}</ref> On the day of Eid, the first thing Muslims do in the morning is gather usually at a large open ground and offer special prayers,<ref>{{cite news |title= Traffic curbs on Eid|url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/keyword/idgah|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131216184727/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/keyword/idgah|url-status= dead|archive-date= 16 December 2013|newspaper= [[The Times of India]]|access-date=9 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Traffic restrictions imposed for Eid prayers|url= http://www.siasat.com/english/news/traffic-restrictions-imposed-eid-prayers|newspaper= Siasat Daily|access-date=9 February 2012}}</ref> in accordance with the [[Sunnah]] (traditions of [[Muhammad]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islamsa.org.za/library/eidgah.html|title=Eidgah|website=islamsa.org.za|access-date=23 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221222219/http://www.islamsa.org.za/library/eidgah.html|archive-date=21 December 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although the usage of the term ''Eidgah'' is of [[Indian subcontinent|Indian]] origin, it may be used for the ''[[musalla]]'', the open space outside a mosque, or other open grounds where Eid prayers are performed, due to the lack of a specific Islamic term for a site of Eid observance. The Eidgah is mentioned in the famous [[Bengali language|Bengali]] poem by [[Kazi Nazrul Islam]], [[O Mon Romzaner Oi Rozar Sheshe]].