Muslims celebrate Eid across India

By IANS

New Delhi: The Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of a month of fasting, was celebrated with religious fervour and traditional festivity across most of India Sunday with prayers, feasts and loads of shopping.


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After a light breakfast of sewian, symbolising the end of fasting, Muslims thronged mosques to offer special prayers early in the morning. Eid is celebrated on the first day of lunar month Shawwal.

Delhi’s historic Jama Masjid looked spectacular as thousands of people, mostly clad in white, offered congregational Eid prayers. Prayers were also held in small mosques across the capital.

At the end of the prayers, worshippers were seen embracing each other with greetings of “Eid mubarak” in a spirit of universal brotherhood, peace and love.

The area around Jama Masjid – an imposing Mughal monument built by emperor Shah Jahan – wore a festive look with people attired in colourful clothes, especially children, crowding the street – all with huge smiles on their faces.

The eastern side of the mosque was packed with people buying sweets, poultry and other eatables, for which Old Delhi is known.

The picture at the busy Chandni Chowk in the walled city was no different. Bazaars were crowded with people buying gifts for their near and dear ones. Makeshift perfume shops also saw a large number of customers.

Prayers over, the festivities continued as people visited relatives and friends, had sumptuous meals and delicious sweets.

The elaborate lunch usually has biryani as the main item, accompanied by hot and spicy mutton and chicken dishes like rogan josh and lip-smacking kebabs.

Many Muslims gave charity, known as sadqa-e-fitr, to the needy – considered obligatory for every family member. It is widely believed that Eid brings with it a chance for spiritual renewal too, after month-long fasting and self-restraint.

Several families visit their friends belonging to other communities and greet them with sweets as a symbol of communal harmony.

“Eid-ul-Fitr is a day of offering gratitude, a day to remember your loved ones, a day of peace and a day to share your joy with others,” said Mohammed Saadiq, a resident of Old Delhi.

“Muslims remember and glorify god. During the month of fasting, they learn to be humble and have a taste of the pains and sufferings of the destitute and the poor,” he added.

Though the recent terror attacks on religious places was fresh on people’s minds, it could not dampen the Eid spirit as people came out in hordes to celebrate the festival.

Two people were killed and many injured in a bomb blast at the revered Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer.

Adequate security arrangements were in place around the mosques in the capital to thwart any incidents.

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