By Tarique Anwar, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Lest the people devastated by the Kosi River flood in August in northeastern Bihar feel desolated and sad on the day of Eid, Muslim organizations, religious leaders as well as Muslim politicians reached relief camps, met victims, distributed relief materials and shared their happiness with them.
In all flood-hit districts – Araria, Purnia, Supaul, Katihar and Kishanganj – Eid was celebrated in a simple way without much fun and frolic. Thousands of flood victims staying in relief camps for the last one and half months gathered in Idgahs and mosques and offered Eid prayer.
Eid was celebrated very simply in Araria where an atmosphere of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood was visible. Superintendent of Police Md Ali Siddiqui and MLA Pradeep Kumar Singh offered Eid greetings to the people. The local people also visited relief camps and shared happiness.
A special arrangement was made by Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind (JUH) for celebration of the festival in relief camps. JUH arranged sweet dishes for the campers and distributed money among them, said Mufti Nasimuddin, general secretary, JUH, Araia to TwoCircles.net on phone.
Sewai, a sweet dish specially prepared on Eid, and Rs 200 in cash per head were distributed among the residents of Malba College relief camp by Imarat Shariah.
A similar arrangement was made by Mufti Alimuddin, manager Darul Uloom Rahmani, Zero Mile in Araria.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind had distributed clothes among the victims in the Town Hall relief camp. On the day of Eid, the organization threw an Eid Milan party for the flood victims and gave Rs10 each to 500 children in its camps, said in charge of JIH, Kosi region, Nuruz Zaman.
Imarat Shariah arranged delicious food in its relief camp in Millia Degree College premises. Local camp in charge Nazeer Ahmad distributed Rs150 each to the families.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited the Mega Camp at Araria College on the day and greeted victims. He expressed his grief that the victims are not celebrating Eid at their homes. The CM was accompanied by Naushad Ahmad, chairman of Bihar State Minority Commission.
Chief Minister Bihar, Nitish Kumar greeting people on the occasion Eid-ul-fiter at Gandhi Maidan, Patna on 2nd Oct., 2008
Muslims in Purnia also celebrated Eid in a simple way. Muslim flood victims in relief camps shared their happiness with their Hindu companions.
Addressing the people at Sadar Hospital Idgah, Maulana Mubarak Hussain said that Muslims feel real pleasure in celebrating this day after observing fast for one month. Throwing light on the present condition of Indian Muslim community he said that if Muslims strictly follow Islamic ways then no body can dare to brand them as terrorist. Islam gives the message of peace and brotherhood, not terrorism, he said.
Several organizations including Imarat Shariah, JUH and Mujeeb and Usman Educational Trust distributed clothes, footwear, food and sewai among victims in different relief camps.
Despite facing miseries of devastating flood which washed away everything and made them residents of relief camps, people in Supaul celebrated Eid.
People from remote places and mega camps started gathering in Idgah in the district headquarter of Supaul. Former union minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, minister for science and technology and minority affairs, Bihar, Shahid Ali Khan and MLC Haroon Rashid were also among those who offered Eid prayer at the Idgah.
Eid was celebrated in Katihar in a peaceful environment. The district administration had mad heavy security arrangement near Idgahs and mosques.
As per communication received from Kishanganj Eid prayer was offered in different mosques and Idgahs in the district. Thousands of people offered prayer at Idgah in the town where District Magistrate Firaque Ahmad offered prayer with the residents of the town.