Tens of thousands of Muslim scholars, clerics and devotees assembled on a riverbank Friday in Bangladesh for an annual gathering that is the largest Islamic event after the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The Biswa Ijtema, or World Congregation of Islamic Preachers, has been held on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi, an industrial town near the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka, since 1960.
Organizers expect a turnout of more than 3 million people Sunday, when the three-day event concludes with a prayer meeting.
The gathering shuns politics. It is dedicated to the tenets of Islam and promotes peace and harmony.
"Islam is a religion of peace and brotherhood," said Akmal Hossain, one of the organizers. "We intend to spread this message."
But security was tight after a string of bombings at four theaters last week killed 19 people and wounded 200 others in northern Bangladesh. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
During the gathering, the faithful also seek to relive the simplicity of Islam in its early days. On Friday, they carried kitchen wares to cook their own food — mostly rice and lentils.
"Islam teaches us to shun luxury," said Modabber Ali, a farmer who came from northern Bangladesh.
Hundreds of tents have been erected with bamboo poles on nearly 65 hectares (160 acres) of land to shelter the devotees. Temporary water pumps and toilets have been installed and extra beds allocated at the local hospital as a precaution.