Eid Celebrations Bring Heavy Traffic to Small Heath as Thousands Come to Pray
Many drivers are having to U-turn to find alternative ways to reach the park for the city's biggest prayers. Muslims from across the Midlands are making their way to Small Heath Park to celebrate Eid today, Friday, March 20.
Prayers have already begun in the park, following a month of daily fasting from sunrise to sunset for Ramadan. As a result, traffic is building in the area, particularly around Coventry Road, Wordsworth Road, Waverley Road, and Tennyson Road, as these are the main entrances into the park.
Traffic Congestion and Alternative Routes
Drivers are also having to do U-turns to try to find alternative places to park. At 8:15 AM, Google Maps was currently suggesting that the fastest route from the city centre to Small Heath Park would be via Garrison Lane. However, it said that the three-mile journey would take at least 15 minutes.
Traffic down the A45 Small Heath Highway is much heavier than usual, taking well over 20 minutes, according to Google Maps. The above video shows a bus getting stuck, trying to turn at a T-junction, due to lines of queuing traffic attempting to make it to the park for early morning prayers.
Community and Religious Significance
The prayers in Small Heath Park are being led by Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre in Birmingham, which follows the Saudi declarations when setting its own calendar. We are sharing live coverage from the biggest Eid event and also capturing how others are celebrating in the city, across the UK, and around the world in our live blog throughout today.
You can sign up for our Brummie Muslims newsletter for the latest updates on Ramadan, Eid, and key dates and events throughout the Islamic calendar. People are starting to arrive to celebrate Eid in Small Heath Park, marking a significant community gathering after the holy month of fasting.
