Sholakia Eidgah

Sholakia Eidgah Maidan is  the largest and traditional Eidgah Maidan of Bangladesh and subcontinent located on the banks of Narsunda river in Kishoreganj district town. Eid congregation has been held in this field since 1828. Sholakia Eidgah has a total of 265 rows in the 7 acre area and there are arrangements for about six-seven hundred worshipers to stand in each row. As such, 100,000 to 80,000 people can pray in the field. However, every year during Eid-ul-Fitr, it is seen that due to lack of space in the field, the worshipers offer prayers in the surrounding open spaces, nearby roads, and in the courtyards of nearby houses. In this way, about three lakh Muslims offer Eid prayers. With the arrival of many pilgrims from different parts of the country and abroad, the status of the Eid congregation in this field has increased a lot. Many tourists even visit Sholakia to witness this unprecedented time of union.

Sufi Syed Ahmed, the ancestor of Sholakia 'Sahib Bari' who came from far away Yemen to spread the divine message of Islam, organized an Eid congregation on the banks of Narsunda river in his own taluk in 1828. Sufi Syed Ahmed himself led the congregation. According to many, he used the word 'hundred lakhs' in the prayer to express the abundance of Muslims. According to another, 125,000 people gathered in that day's congregation. As a result its name is 'Swa Lakhi'. Later the name Sholakiya came into use due to evolution of pronunciation. Others say that during the Mughal period, the revenue of the pargana located here was one hundred lakh taka. Evolution of pronunciation from Sowa Lakh to Soalakhiya and hence Sholakiya. Later in 1950, under the guidance of Dewan Mannan Dad Khan, one of the local Haiwatnagar Dewan family, the size of the field increased and its scope expanded. Dewan Mannan Dad Khan was a subordinate descendant of Bir Isha Khan.

If you want to come to Sholakia, you have to come to Kishoreganj District  Headquarters first by any means  . If you want to come from Dhaka, you can come to Kishoreganj by train or bus. If you take the Egarosindhur train from Dhaka's Kamalapur or Airport Railway Station at 7:15 in the morning, you will reach Kishoreganj by 11:00. Dhaka to Kishoreganj train ticket costs from 135 taka to 368 taka depending on the class. You can easily go to Sholakia Maidan by getting off at Kishoreganj railway station and renting a rickshaw for Tk 30.

And if you want to come by bus, take any bus from Dhaka's Mahakhali or Golapbagh bus stand to Kishoreganj and go to Gaital bus stand in Kishoreganj. Bus fare from Tk 270 to Tk 350. Then come to Sholakia Eidgah field for 40 taka rickshaw fare or 10 taka local easy bike fare.

Special service on Eid: If you want to attend Eid congregation, if you are coming from far away, then you should come the previous day. Besides, special train services are running from Bhairab and Mymensingh for Eid congregation. Two special trains leave for Kishoreganj early in the morning on the day of Eid. Many people can come together by booking a bus or a private car.

Eating favorite food in restaurants like Dhansindi, Gangchil, River View Kitchen, Taj etc. in Kishoreganj city. If you are crazy about sweets, you can try it at Ekrampur's Lakshi Narayan Mistanna Bhandar or Madan Gopal.

If you want to stay overnight, there are several good quality residential hotels in the station road area of ​​Kishoreganj Sadar namely River View, Gangchil, Nirala, Uzanbhati, Castle Salam. Apart from that, subject to permission, you can stay in the government post office bungalow of the district headquarters.

If you have time, the other things you can visit in Kishoreganj include  Kabi Chandravati Mandir ,  Gangatia Zamindar Bari , Kishoreganj Lake Park,  Mithamin Haor  and  Nikali Haor  etc.