The Bishwa Ijtema the World or Global Congregation or Meeting) is an annual Tablighi Jamaat Islamic movement congregation held at Tongi, Bangladesh by the river Turag. It is the 2nd largest Muslim congregation in the world after the Arba'een. The event focuses on prayers and supplication and does not allow political discussion.[1] The local police estimated the number of attendees of 2007 ijtema to be 3 million[2] while in 2010 the number of attendees was 5 million.
The first meeting was reportedly held in 1946[3]
(although various sources indicate other dates for this) and continues
to be organized by the Bangladesh Tablighi Jamaat. It lasts three days
and is attended by over five million Muslims, making it one of the
largest congregations after the Hajj to Mecca and the gathering of Muslims in Karbala, Iraq to commemorate Arbaeen. (Hajj is mandatory and a pillar of Islam, whereas the Ijtema is neither). The program concludes with the Akheri Munajat, or final prayer. The tradition of Ijtema was initiated by an Indian savant named Muhammad Ilyas al-Kandhlawi
and began as a small group of religious-minded individuals gathering at
a local mosque. For forty-one years Tongi has been the chosen location,
although similar programs are held on a lesser scale in other
countries. The Ijtema is non-political, and therefore it draws
people of all persuasion. Prayer is held for the spiritual adulation,
exaltation and welfare of the Muslims community. This immensely popular
program gives the people of Bangladesh an opportunity to interact with
Muslims from other countries and is commonly attended by prominent
political figures.
The congregation takes place at an area comprising 160 acres (0.65 km2)
of land (0.25 square mile). Devotees from approximately 150 countries,
including the host country, Bangladesh, attend the three-day Ijtema
seeking divine blessings from Allah. In recent years, over seven thousands foreign delegates attend the congregation each year. Special rates are provided by Bangladesh Biman's world wonder fund.
Despite the large number of devotees living within a confined space,
generally there is very few problems of sanitation, cooking, and
internal movements. It is believed to be possible because of the
minimalist approach adopted by the devotees. Devotees have reduced their
own requirements and developed a respect for others' requirements.
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