Manchester Mosque Project Aims to Accommodate Growing Muslim Community

Eid al-Adha celebrations highlight the need for a larger, more suitable worship space

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:18am

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Members of Manchester's Muslim community gathered at the current Islamic Society of New Hampshire mosque on South Willow Street to celebrate Eid al-Adha, a major Islamic festival. However, the limited space at the existing mosque, located in the upper level of a commercial building, required holding three separate services to accommodate the 1,500 to 2,000 worshippers who typically attend. The Islamic Society is working to complete a new mosque project on Lagrange Avenue, which they hope will be ready within the next one to two years.

Why it matters

The Eid al-Adha celebrations highlighted the growing Muslim population in Manchester and the need for a larger, more suitable worship space. The current mosque's location and size constraints prevent the community from gathering and celebrating together as they would prefer. The new mosque project aims to provide a centralized, purpose-built facility that can better serve the diverse range of worshippers in the area.

The details

Due to the limited space at the current mosque, the Eid al-Adha celebrations were divided into three separate services to accommodate all the attendees. Manhood Salar from Afghanistan noted that in his home country, Eid prayers are typically held in large open-air mosques, but the lack of such a space in Manchester required the community to gather separately. Abdel Traore from Burkina Faso also expressed hope that the new mosque project on Lagrange Avenue will be completed soon, as the current location's constraints and the cold weather prevent the kind of outdoor gatherings he is used to.

  • The Eid al-Adha celebrations took place on March 20, 2026.
  • The Islamic Society of New Hampshire hopes to complete the new mosque project within the next one to two years.

The players

Islamic Society of New Hampshire (ISNH)

The organization that operates the current mosque on South Willow Street and is leading the effort to build a new, larger mosque on Lagrange Avenue.

Manhood Salar

An attendee of the Eid al-Adha celebrations at the current mosque, originally from Afghanistan.

Abdel Traore

An attendee of the Eid al-Adha celebrations at the current mosque, originally from Burkina Faso in West Africa.

Shahrukh Khan

The Secretary of the Islamic Society of New Hampshire, who provided details about the current mosque's capacity and the plans for the new mosque project.

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What they’re saying

“Eid prayer always is prayed in big open-air mosques (Idga) but today we pray separate because of no such spaces for all who celebrate.”

— Manhood Salar

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The Islamic Society of New Hampshire is currently working to raise $500,000 to achieve partial occupancy of the new mosque on Lagrange Avenue, which will allow them to utilize the lower level of the building while continuing work on the main and second floors. This will help reduce ongoing rental and operational expenses at the current location.

The takeaway

The Eid al-Adha celebrations in Manchester highlight the growing Muslim community in the city and the need for a larger, more suitable worship space. The Islamic Society's efforts to build a new mosque on Lagrange Avenue aim to provide a centralized, purpose-built facility that can better accommodate the diverse range of worshippers and allow the community to gather and celebrate together as they would prefer.