By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the month-long fasting, was celebrated by the Muslims in Manipur on Saturday amidst the intense agitation by the people of the State seeking implementation of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in the State to restrict and regulate migration of outsiders to the State.
The agitation intensified after a student protestor was killed in police action on July 8. The tense situation forced the State Government to impose indefinite curfew. However, the Joint Committee on ILPS relaxed the agitation for the Eid and Rath Yatra, the later too celebrated by the Hindus on Saturday.
Considering the situation the Muslims celebrated the Eid festival with moderation. The celebration was marked by offering prayers at mosques and idgahs, exchanging greetings, visiting friends and relatives, savouring special delicacies and exchanging pleasantries.
In the Imphal areas, Muslim males thronged the nearby mosques to perform the special eid prayers. Some of the prominent mosques in the city like Sadr Bazar Jame Majid at Khwairamband Bazar, Jame Masjid at Hafiz Hatta, Jame Masjid at Golapati and Babupara Masjid were packed with people.
Chief Minister of the State O. Ibobi Singh and Director General of Police Sayyid Ahmed joined the Eid prayers at the Babupara Majid, which is located near the CM bungalow. After the prayers the CM exchanged greetings with some of the Muslim leaders.
In the Muslim localities, male and female in rich and colourful festive attires were seen visiting relatives and friends, savouring sweets and meat delicacies; elders giving ‘edi’ to children and alms to the poor.