Bakrid Prayers Return to Brigade Parade Ground After Years Away from Red Road

Eid al-Adha Prayers Shift to Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata

Kolkata witnessed a significant change in arrangements for Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) prayers on Thursday, with the traditional congregational namaz being held at Brigade Parade Ground instead of the customary Red Road venue for the first time in years. This shift marked a departure from the decades-long tradition of Eid prayers, which had been organized on Red Road under successive governments, including the Left Front regime and the Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee.

During her tenure as chief minister, Banerjee regularly attended the Red Road gatherings twice every year. However, this year, no Bakrid namaz was allowed on open roads anywhere in Kolkata, reflecting a visible shift in administrative policy. The change came after the newly elected BJP government in West Bengal, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, announced that religious gatherings would no longer be permitted on public roads due to the traffic congestion and inconvenience caused to commuters.

The impact of this policy was evident on Thursday as thousands of worshippers gathered at the Brigade Parade Ground instead of Red Road. The Kolkata Police made elaborate security arrangements across the city, particularly around the Brigade Parade Ground and major mosques, to ensure peaceful celebrations. Additional police personnel were deployed in sensitive areas, while drones were used for aerial surveillance.

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This venue shift also followed last year's communication from the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, which has administrative control over Red Road, asking the Khilafat Committee to arrange an alternative site for Eid prayers citing security concerns. At the time, Mamata Banerjee had said her government would try to persuade Army authorities to continue allowing the prayers at Red Road. However, after the Trinamool Congress lost power in the 2026 Assembly elections, the prayers were eventually shifted to Brigade Parade Ground.