A day after 700-plus pilgrims died in a stampede outside Mecca, devotees gathered to offer namaz together at Nazrul Park on Id-ul-Zuha on September 25.

Maulana Khurshid Alam, who had come from Baruipur to conduct the namaz, said: “We pray that Allah takes care of the souls of our departed brothers and protects those in trouble.”

Organised by Harmony Association of Salt Lake, the prayer meeting had more than 400 people attending. The namaz started off by asking Allah for forgiveness and then thanking him for everything. “Id-ul-Zuha commemorates Hazrat Ibrahim’s obedience of Allah by agreeing to sacrifice his most loved possession, his son Ismail. We also pray for the poor, our friends and family,” said the maulana.

As is the norm, there were separate praying areas for men and women. “We love praying here with everyone else. The atmosphere is superb,” said Md. Rabiul Hosain, who stays near Baisakhi.

Irfan Asad of Harmony Association said they were happy with the turn-out. “Id is about togetherness and we are blessed to have so many come to pray with us,” he said.