By Arif Kudroli, TwoCircles.net,
Mangalore: Muslims all over the city gathered at Idgah on Lighthouse Hill at 8 am and at the Noor Masjid at 8:15 am to offer the special Eid Namaz.
Across Kerala, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, lakhs of joyful Muslims, many of them wearing the conventional kurta-pyjamas, thronged various Masjids and Eid-gahs to offer Eid prayers, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
Eid-gah Masjid in Light House Hill, Masjidunnoor in Hampankatta, Taqwa Masjid in Pumpwell, Ibrahim Khaleel Masjid near State Bank and Kachi Memon Masjid in Bunder were overcrowded with devotees. Eid prayers were also held at Central Juma Masjid in and Salsabeel Masjid in Ullal and Huda Masjid in Thokkottu.
In most of the Masjids, the devotees, after offering the Eid prayers, prayed for communal harmony and welfare of the country as well. They also prayed for the victims of violence and barbarism in Syria, Egypt and other parts of the world.
Donning new clothes, Muslims visited houses of their relatives, where they were treated with special sweet dishes. Platters of a variety of delicious cuisines were prepared in Muslim households.
Children dressed in festival attire added colour to the celebrations. People wished Eid Mubarak and hugged each other as a large number of shutterbugs tried to capture the poignant scenes of the festival prayers and greetings.
A large number of women devotees also offered Eid prayer in some of the Masjids. “The number of women participating in Eid prayer has been continuously increasing since last few years thanks to the Islamic awakening in coastal Karnataka”, said Maulana Mujahid Ansari, a cleric.
Mangalore Qazi Message
In his Eid message Mangalore Qazi Twaqa Ahmed Mulsliyar exhorted the Muslims not to forget the lesser privileged people and needy during the festivities. “We have a social responsibility towards the poor and needy. As long as we attend to their problems, God’s blessings will continue to shower upon us,” he said.
He said Eid-ul-Fitr is a special gift of Allah to those who keep month long fast and engage themselves in prayers and spiritual cleanliness as per His commandments.
In Udupi Jamia Masjid, the Khatheeb addressing the assemblage, said that Islam encompasses love, affection, compassion and peace. “We have gathered here to offer gratitude to almighty after 30 days of fast.”
In another Masjid, the cleric opined that communal harmony is our country’s strength. Emphasizing importance of fasting of Muslims during the month of Ramadan, he said, community would not involve in any sort of committing mistakes, lying and betrayal. He called upon the gathering to continue the same after the end of fasting season and aid the needy.
In rural areas of coastal Karnataka and Kerala too the festival was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety.