A sprawling of tents spread over 185 acres of land is ready to home over a million followers of Islam who would be attending the three-day ‘Aalami Tableeghi Ijtema’ (International Islamic congregation) at Ghasipura in Eintkhedi village on the northern outskirts of the Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal. The Ijtema venue is completely ready to welcome the visitors and the Chief Minister is Shivraj Singh Chouhan is scheduled to inspect the site on Monday.
Ijtema organising committee spokesman Atique-ul-Islam while talking to The Pioneer said, “All preparations for the annual grand occasion are complete and the stage is all set for the 68th edition of three-day. The congregation that would begin on Saturday November 28, soon after the Fajir Namaz (pre-dawn prayers) would come to an end on Monday November 8, morning with the mass Dua (prayer).”
Islam further said, “Muslims from all over the country have started arriving here in Jamaats (Groups of devotees) while the foreign Jamaats would start coming from November 26.”
Islam said that the Jamaats from other countries including Middle East and Europe would also arrive soon.
He said that this year special arrangements have been made for mass Nikah, a grand tent within the Ijtema campus has been erected for the purpose.
He said that arrangements have been made on over 185 acres of land; the main ‘pandal’ has come up on about 35 acres of land to accommodate the Jamaats. In the main ‘pandal’ tens of thousands of people will camp for three days listening to the holy sermons of Islamic scholars from across the world.
The remaining 100 acres of land has been left for parking and shopping plots meant for eateries, about 5,000 ablutions points for Wuzu, have been made. Venue is spotted with 275 water tanks of 5000 liter capacity. In all 24 tube-wells have been connected to ensure proper water supply. More than 2500 makeshift urinals and toilets have been put with a temporary sewage system.