Loading...Located on the eastern edge of Kishoreganj town, the Sholakia Eidgah (Sholakia Eidgah Ground) is the largest and most historic Eid gathering site in Bangladesh and the subcontinent. Every year, Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha prayers are held here. Over time, Sholakia Eidgah Ground has become a historic site, and it hosts the largest Eid congregation in Bangladesh. This massive congregation has brought honor and tradition to Kishoreganj.
Currently, over three hundred thousand worshippers gather here for the prayer. Before the prayer starts, the sound of blank shots from a short gun is used to signal everyone to prepare for the prayer. Located on the banks of the Narasunda River, on the eastern side of Kishoreganj town, Sholakia Eidgah has become a significant landmark.
History of Sholakia Eidgah:
The Sholakia Eidgah was established by Sufi Syed Ahmed, who came from Yemen to spread the message of Islam. In 1828, Syed Ahmed organized the Eid congregation on the banks of the Narasunda River in his own taluk. He himself led the prayers on that day.
It is believed that during the prayer, Syed Ahmed mentioned the term “Soa Lakh” (a little over a lakh) in his supplication to express the prosperity of the people. Another version of the story suggests that on that day, around 125,000 (or Soa Lakh) people gathered for the prayer, leading to the name “Soa Lakhi.” Over time, the pronunciation evolved, and the name “Sholakia” came into use. Some believe that during the Mughal period, the revenue of the local area was estimated at Soa Lakh taka, and the name gradually changed from Soa Lakh to Soa Lakhiya, and eventually to Sholakia.
In 1950, the local Dewan Mannan Dada Khan donated an additional 4.35 acres of land to this Eidgah. Today, the Sholakia Eidgah Ground spans 7 acres of land, situated on the banks of the Narasunda River. There is a two-story primary school on the eastern side of Sholakia.
Current Structure and Capacity of Sholakia Eidgah:
Sholakia Eidgah is surrounded by high walls, but some areas are left open to allow people to enter and exit the ground. There are no doors in the walls surrounding the ground. The Eidgah is organized into 265 rows, each with space for 500 worshippers. In total, up to 132,500 worshippers can perform their prayers inside the Eidgah. However, during Eid-ul-Fitr, worshippers can also be seen praying on the nearby roads, open spaces, and even in the courtyards of homes. In this way, nearly 300,000 worshippers perform the Eid prayer here, and this number increases each year.
The administration of the Sholakia Eidgah is overseen by a 51-member executive committee. This committee is responsible for all the preparatory activities for the Eid prayers.
How to Visit Sholakia Eidgah:
Buses from Gulistan leave every hour to Kishoreganj, including the Ishakha Service, Mohakhali’s Kishoreganj Travels, Onnanya, Digital Onnanya, Egara Sindhur, and Haor Bilas.
Additionally, from Syedabad, you can take the Gate Lock Ishakha bus service for a fare of 150 BDT. For a 200 BDT fare, you can travel from the Kamalapur Golapbagh area to Kishoreganj in about 2.5 hours using the BRTC bus service.
You can also catch the Egara Sindhur Express from Dhaka Kamalapur Railway Station at 7:30 AM on holidays. It reaches Kishoreganj in three hours. The train fare for Subhan Chair is 140 BDT, and for Subhan class, it is 120 BDT. From there, a 15-20 BDT rickshaw fare will take you to the Sholakia Eidgah.
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