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The memories of Bury Park I have are the chaand Raat; that was
something, when I first experienced I had never experienced
before. Growing up, I have always been told by my parents that
experiencing Eid in your own country; Bangladesh, Pakistan
or any Muslim Countries, it would be like an amazing feeling.
You know how Christmas is in UK; Eid would feel amazing in a
Muslim Country, but when you are in Bury Park, you actually
get that feeling. So the day before Eid the Chaand Raat, where
people go do their henna, purchasing their Eid clothes; sareers,
funjabis, shalwar Kameez etc.It’s just that beautiful community
spirit, where everybody I excited for Eid, they cannot wait,
cannot wait to get dressed. People are dancing on the street,
because they are excited about Eid. That is one of my fondest
memories of Bury Park and that day before Eid, you will not
experience in many Towns in UK. If you have not experienced
Channd Raat in Bury Park, I would definitely recommend it.
Other memories I have when we were younger, were when
Britain’s First and EDL come to Bury Park, we were told by our
parents, our elders, don’t go Bury Park, don’t go out, don’t go
to Town Centre it’s not gone be safe for us, they will smash our
window, smash our cars. They viewed Bury Park as a dangerous
place, when it really wasn’t. When EDL, did come, it used to be
peaceful protest, the police organised themselves very well. The
community stood together, they didn’t react, the just ensured
that the shops and places of worship was defended, nothing
occurred nothing broke out, the community of Bury Park
represented their community very well.

Back in the 1990s to early 2000s, you would get many cultural foods; Bangladeshi food such as sanasur. Now you don’t
get much of that. Now it’s mostly chicken and chips, desserts, sweet shops. South Asian street food has become
prominent; you get shops like Chaiwala, Karak chai, chai and chapti. I think in the early 90s, and 00s, the Asian as a
community did not go out much and now I think Asian community and other communities has advanced a lot.

This has turned Bury Park into like a food district, where you can get nice food, not only nice well-presented food
which you can share with your friends on social media and family members. You get food that tastes good, that’s value
for money and you are in the heart of the community. Bury Park is a home to lot of people, it is an area where a lot of
have started their life. It has been as an access to education, good employment and access to other area of Luton. Bury
Park will always be home to lot of people; with the vast history it carries.

Sadiqul Islam Choudhury

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