'It was crazy': Thousands celebrate Eid al-Fitr at football stadium in London

Thousands of Muslims brought prayer mats to Western University's TD Waterhouse Football Stadium as the London Muslim Mosque marked the end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitrprayers.

It's the first time in years that the community has used the football field for their congregation.

"The point of this particular day is that we come together to show a sense of unity amongst the Muslims with all the diversity that exists in our community," said Abd Alfatah Twakkal, Imamof the London Muslim Mosque.

"So when we come together it's a very joyousoccasion. It's not often that we're able to come together in such large numbers during the year."

Twakkal joked that he'd love to host a congregationoutside on a football field every Friday.

He said that hosting the prayer outside allowed for a spiritual experience because of a light drizzle of rain.

"At the end when it started to rain we actually don't mind that," said Twakkal, adding that rain is seen as a "mercy of God" according to theQur'an.

"This is one of the reasons when you kept on seeing people smiling in spite of the rain falling because this is the mercy of God coming down upon us," said Twakkal.

New experience

"It was crazy, there were a lot of people celebrating," saidAli Abualsoud. "It's nice seeing everyone dressed up and celebrating today."

His father JahedAbualsoud said it was a "very exciting" moment to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

"We have to pray in the morning of the Eid and we have to be with each other and celebrate and congratulate each other," he said.

"This is the first time we've prayed in this area but we used to go to the Western Fair," he told CBC News.

He said everyone seemed happy despite the rain.

Breaking fast

"It was weird,"saidHeshamAkrim, as he waited for familyfollowing themorning prayers. He said that it wasdifferent praying on a football field and enjoyed the change.

Akrimsaid he looked at today as a way tocelebrate with family and friendsafter a month of fasting.

He said he plans to celebrate on Sunday by eating "everythingI can."