Thousands of Londoners gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday to celebrate Eid, marking the end of Ramadan, after the event was cancelled for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The festival featured live music from Arfoud Brothers and Sisters and the Baha Yetkin Sufi Ensemble, along with children's activities such as face painting and sword fights. Long queues formed at food stalls, with Naughty Boys' Indian street food proving especially popular.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan attended the event, praising the atmosphere and the diversity of the crowd. 'It's fantastic, you can feel the vibe, feel the atmosphere,' he said. 'This is one of the most famous squares in the world. I'm a firm believer that our diversity is a strength not a weakness.'
Attendees expressed joy at the return of the celebration. Akram, 25, from west London, said, 'It's very nice, it's nice to have a community vibe.' Mohammed, 24, from Romford, added, 'I didn't expect it to be so big. It's good to celebrate and have food with everyone.'
