During Ijtema Jamuna Express Train Passing Tongi Railway Station in 4K
The Bishwa Ijtema (Bengali: বিশ্ব ইজতেমা, meaning Global Congregation) is an annual gathering of Muslims in Tongi, by the banks of the River Turag, in the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the second largest Islamic congregation after the Hajj. It is one of the largest peaceful gatherings in the world. The Ijtema is a prayer meeting spread over three days, during which attending devotees perform daily prayers while listening to scholars reciting and explaining verses from the Quran. It culminates in the Akheri Munajat, or the Final Prayer, in which millions of devotees raise their hands towards Mecca and pray for world peace. The Ijtema is considered a demonstration of Muslim unity, solidarity, mutual love and respect and an opportunity to reiterate their commitment to Islamic values.
The Ijtema is non-political and therefore it draws people of all persuasion. It is attended by devotees from 150 countries. The majority of its devotees come from across Bangladesh, the world's third largest Muslim majority country.
Speakers include Islamic scholars from various countries.
Ijtema is an Arabic word which means public gathering. In Bengali, the event is known as the "Bishwa Ijtema". Bishwa is a Bengali word which means world.
More than five million people travel to the Turag river in Bangladesh.
Muslim devotees arrive on overcrowded trains to attend the Biswa Ijtema or World Muslim Congregation at Tongi, about 30 kms north of Dhaka on January .
