This film is part of Free

Oriental Atmosphere
Britain's oldest mosque welcomes a vast crowd of worshippers, visitors, curious onlookers and the odd newsreel camera!
Overview
The arrival of Islam in Britain was clearly a source of fascination for the newsreel companies - this is one of several stories featuring Britain's first purpose-built mosque, the Shah Jahan Mosque in Woking. We see turbaned men knelt in prayer and embracing each other in a relaxed moment of celebration - probably during the Eid al-Fitr festival, which attracted vast crowds annually.
The Shah Jahan Mosque, on Woking's Oriental Road, was Britain's central Islamic hub for much of the 20th century. During the annual Eid al-Fitr ceremony, which marks the end of Ramadan, the mosque welcomed hundreds of worshippers from around the country, as well as foreign dignitaries. Here, as in Feast of Eid-ul-Fitr (1924) and Moslem Festival at Woking (1928), prayers take place outside of the mosque itself - perhaps to accommodate the vast numbers of visitors, curious onlookers, and newsreel cameras!
Related

The Bradford Godfather The Bradford Godfather
1976 49 mins Location: Bradford
Meet Mohamed Fazal Hussain, elder statesman and all-round Mr Fixit of Bradford's Muslim community, and a film mogul in the making...

The Referee The Referee
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1976 4 mins
Wrestling as a metaphor for race relations in this short aimed at Britain's South-Asian community

Asian Pub Landlord Asian Pub Landlord
News 1968 2 mins Location: Newbridge
Mr Dhanjal from Wolverhampton: custodian of one of the most vital positions in any community.

Gandhi in England British Screen News No. 335 Gandhi in England British Screen News No. 335
Non-Fiction 1931 2 mins Silent
Mahatma Gandhi's arrival in England for the second India Round Table Conference at St James's Palace

Shakti Shakti
Drama 1992 14 mins
An Asian woman engages her inner goddess to create a stunning oasis in a grey tower block.

Sikh Matron Sikh Matron
Magazine and Review show 1985 8 mins Location: Kinver
From the temple to the hospital Kartar Singh is a leading practitioner of Sikhism.

Feast of Eid-ul-Fitr Feast of Eid-ul-Fitr
Non-Fiction 1924 1 mins Silent Location: Woking
The UK's first purpose-built mosque welcomes a huge crowd of worshippers - and newsreel cameras!

Moslems in Britain - Places Moslems in Britain - Places
Documentary 1964 23 mins Location: Woking
Visit the places important to London's Muslim community in this informative short documentary.

Training drills and parades in Woking Training drills and parades in Woking
Amateur film 1943 19 mins Silent Location: Woking
Woking's Home Guard strut their stuff in this sensational mix of training film and social record - with weapons, explosions, rope bridges and lots of climbing over barbed wire.

Home Front and Home Guard - Wartime Woking Home Front and Home Guard - Wartime Woking
Amateur film 1938 10 mins Silent Location: Woking
Woking gears up for war in this remarkable film about the Home Guard and its contribution to the town.

Woking reaches its target and military marches Woking reaches its target and military marches
Amateur film 1944 16 mins Silent Location: Woking
Over £680,000 is raised by Wartime Woking in this film from 1944 which features women on parade, Air Training Corps cadets and the Home Guard.

The National Fire Service in Woking and a Pump Relay competition in Guildford The National Fire Service in Woking and a Pump Relay competition in Guildford
Amateur film 1942 7 mins Silent Location: Woking
Men of the NFS demonstrate their fire fighting equipment skills before an audience in this splendid colour film from 1942. And the best crews get the best prizes.

Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.

Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.

Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.

Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.

Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.

Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.