Srinagar, Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety throughout the Kashmir valley Wednesday.
Tens of thousands of Muslims offered prayers in Eidgahs, special prayer grounds for the occasion, across the valley.
The largest Eid prayer congregation was held at the Eidgah in the old city area of Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar, where more than 100,000 devotees assembled to offer prayers.
Eid congregational prayers were also offered at Hazratbal shrine in the city and at all other major and minor towns of the valley.
“Eid prayers passed off peacefully throughout the valley and no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere,” a police officer said.
After offering Eid prayers at the Polo grounds in the city, thousands of locals raised pro-freedom slogans, but dispersed peacefully.
Police and civil administration had made special security arrangements at various places.
Children wearing new clothes and showing off Eidi (money elders give to the young as a token of love on Eid) could be seen on the streets, adding colour and fervour to the solemnity of the occasion.
Srinagar was witness to loud explosions of a peaceful kind as children freely burst firecrackers with paramilitary troopers smiling at them and even occasionally helping them light the explosives.
Special food was cooked in Muslim homes to celebrate the festival.
“I bought a fat goose and some mutton for the family. I shall be joining my parents for lunch after a month’s break today,” said Aijaz Hussain, a journalist.