Hundreds of people flocked to the Ivy Centre in Blackburn for a lively family fun day in support of Masjid-e-Rizwan, one of the town’s oldest mosques.

Organised to raise funds for a major rebuilding project, the event drew widespread community participation and raised an impressive £42,000.

“The event was a tremendous success, with overwhelming support from the community,” a mosque spokesperson told Lancashire Telegraph.

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“Our dedicated volunteers came together with passion and unity to deliver a truly memorable experience for all.”

The venue was transformed into a festive bazaar, with the car park filled with enticing food stalls serving fresh pizzas, burgers, and noodles. Inside, stalls offered everything from desserts to clothing and handcrafted gifts, drawing large crowds throughout the day.

Volunteers from the mosque manned the stalls and actively collected donations, all in support of the building project currently underway at Masjid-e-Rizwan in Futhergate.

Guests included Blackburn MP Adnan Hussain and the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Cllr Jacqueline Slater. Adding a modern twist, TikTok personality Shahid Sheikh—widely known as Bawa—livestreamed the event to his followers.

The mosque is being rebuilt by the Kokni Muslim Association and will soon house a larger prayer space for up to 450 worshippers. The project is being entirely funded by community donations.

“Every year, we ask the brothers and sisters who organise this event to reflect on how we can improve and make the experience even better than the last, and this year they truly delivered,” the spokesperson added.

“The effort, creativity, and attention to detail were clear in every aspect of the day. We are thrilled to announce that £42,000 was raised on the day, an incredible achievement.”

Special thanks were given to young volunteers who played a key role in planning and executing the day’s activities.

“A huge thank you to everyone who helped to put this event together. The volunteers have been instrumental, and we are thankful for their efforts. We would also like to thank all the families who turned out and helped make the event such a success.”

With the rebuilding of Masjid-e-Rizwan well underway, the success of this event highlights the deep-rooted community spirit and shared commitment to preserving and expanding a key place of worship in Blackburn.