Ijtima (Tablighi Ijtima) is the important festival of
Muslims in Bhopal. Previously it was celebrated in the precincts of the
Taj-ul-Masjid, but later the venue of the celebrations has been shifted
out of the city to a place called Ghasipura . Believed to be one of the
biggest Islamic congregations in the world, Ijtima is celebrated annually
for 3 days, accompanied by a gorgeous fair. More than half a million Muslims
from all over the world participate in the Ijtima.
It is said that in the earlier days, during the colonial rule in India,
it was popular among the locals because of the clothes that were sold
at the fair. The foreign delegates used to bring many clothes along with
them and sell them at very low prices. With the passage of time and availability
of good quality clothing materials in India, the hype that surrounded
the trade of the discarded clothes of the foreigners gradually disappeared.
