Thousands of women offered namaaz at a mosque in Meerpur in Kanpur. This mosque exclusively allows women to offer prayers. Srinagar too saw scores of women offering Eid prayers at the Eidgah maidan. At all the prayer centres across Kerala, there were separate enclosures for women and children, who had turned up in large numbers.
By IANS,
New Delhi: From Gujarat to Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala, Eid festivity gripped areas with sizeable Muslim populations and across cities in India as Eid-ul-Fitr – which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan – was celebrated on Saturday.
Prayers at mosques, greeting each other and relishing the ‘seviyan’ sweet dish and biryani marked the day.
Tight security arrangements were made at many places to ensure that the festival passed off peacefully, but protests broke out in Jammu and Kashmir, in which a few people were injured.
“On this day, we pay obeisance to the almighty and thank him for his blessings. People come together and celebrate the festival with love and unity,” Maulana Mufti Mukarram Ahmad, Shahi Imam of the 17th-century Fatehpuri mosque in Delhi, told IANS.
President Pranab Mukherjee greeted citizens, saying “on this day, let us forgive and forget our differences.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people and said the festival epitomised brotherhood in society.
Prayers, bonhomie on Eid in Delhi
“It is an occasion to spend time with the family. As per the tradition, the head of the family gives alms to the poor,” said Faraz Ahmad, a resident of south Delhi’s Gulmohar Park area.
Danish Aslam, a resident of Daryaganj, said the festival continues for around three days. “We meet all our relatives and friends and also exchange sweets, especially seviyan (sweet vermicelli) and kheer (sweet rice pudding).”
All male members of the community and children offered morning prayers at nearby mosques and Eidgahs, after which they embraced each other and exchanged greetings.
Aslam added that non-vegetarian food such as kebabs, biryani and korma is also prepared.
Muslims account for over 11 % of the nearly 17 million population of Delhi.
Eid celebrated in Bengal with traditional fervour
Turning out in their festive best, Muslims across West Bengal took part in special prayers at mosques since early morning and hugged and greeted each other to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday.
A large number of members from the community gathered at the city’s principal mosque, Nakhoda Masjid, while the sprawling Indira Gandhi Sarani – erstwhile Red Road – saw over 40,000 devotees on rugs to offer namaaz prayers.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee greeted people on the occasion and participated at the Indira Gandhi Road congregation.
The mass prayers were followed by day-long merry making, a large part of which revolves around feasts. Mughlai cuisine, including mouth watering dishes of biryanis and kebabs, as also fresh fruits and home-made desserts like ‘sewayian’ were the favourities.
The festival is an all-inclusive affair in Kolkata with members of other religions also being a part of the celebrations. To bring a smile on very lip on the joyous occasion, various clubs, NGOs and civic bodies arranged programmes where new clothes and food packets were handed out to the poor and the needy.
Women gathered around in henna stalls to adorn themselves with the art while children were given money (Eidee) by elders to enjoy the day.
Heavy security arrangements were made across the city and all districts of the state to prevent any untoward incidents. This year, the security was intensified as Eid and the Hindu festival of Rathyatra were held on the same day.
Fervour, gaiety mark Eid in Karnataka
Thousands of Muslims celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with religious fervour and gaiety across Karnataka. Devout Muslims in their hundreds flocked to Idgah maidans and local mosques in cities and towns across the state and offered prayers, invoking Almighty’s grace and divine attention for peace and piety in the world.
Attired in new clothes and sporting skull caps, the faithful exchanged greetings while many of their children were seen hugging each other and making merry.
At the main Eidgah in Bengaluru’s southwestern suburb (Chamarajpet), Chief Minister Siddaramaiah joined hundreds of Muslims in praying and exchanging Eid greetings.
Scores of political, religious and cultural leaders, including Information Minister Roshan Baig, Congress leader Rizwan Ahmed and lawmaker N A Harris participated in the gathering at the main Eidgah.
After the gathering, the devout exchanged gifts, while others donated money to the poor. Undeterred by inclement weather and intermittent rain in many cities and towns across the state, people partook of sumptuous feasts and distributed alms to the needy.
Eid was also celebrated peacefully in Ballari, Belagavi, Bidar, Hubbali, Kalaburgi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Raichur, Shivammoga and Vijapura in the state’s coastal, central, southern and northern regions.
Governor Vajubhai Vala, Siddaramaiah and many political, religious and social leaders greeted the Muslim community, which accounts for around 18 % of the state’s 65 million population.
Police had made elaborate security arrangements across the state to maintain peace and prevent any untoward incident during the festival day.
Eid celebrated with gaiety in Uttar Pradesh
Muslims across Uttar Pradesh celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr as they thronged various mosques to offer prayers and later wished each other on Eid. Devouts while offering prayers sought forgiveness from the almighty for their sins and peace for the country.
Thousands of women offered namaaz at a mosque in Meerpur in Kanpur. This mosque exclusively allows women to offer prayers.
Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited the Aisbagh Eidgah and mingled with the crowds and wished them on the festival. In his message, the Governor said the festival highlighted universal brotherhood and peace. He said not only on the festival but such a feeling of oneness should prevail throughout the year and always. Yadav said the environment of love and affection for each other would prevail throughout the year and all sections of the society would contribute in the development and progress of the state.
Gaiety marks Eid-ul-Fitr in Telangana, Andhra
Tens of thousands of Muslims offered Eid prayers at Eidgahs or open grounds and mosques in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and in other towns of Telangana and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
Attired in the new clothes and wearing skull caps, men and children thronged Eidgahs and mosques since morning for the ‘Namaz-e-Eid’, marking the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan.
The ‘Imams’ or priests in their sermons exhorted Muslims to introspect and lead the lives in accordance with Quraan and Sunnah, the holy life of Prophet Mohammed. They advised Muslims to continue the good deeds of Ramadan for success in this life and the Hereafter. They underlined the need to have empathy towards poor.
The priests also made ‘dua’ (supplication) for unity among Muslims and for peace across the world, especially in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and Egypt.
The biggest congregation was held at the historic Mir Alam Eidgah in Hyderabad. The historic Makkah Masjid, Hocky Grounds, Military Grounds, Secunderabad Eidgah and Madannapet Eidgah also saw huge gatherings.
Police had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Eid prayers by imposing traffic restrictions. Hyderabad Police Commissioner Mahender Reddy, who supervised the arrangements, said 15,000 personnel were deployed in the city for peaceful and smooth conduct of prayers.
A festive mood prevails in Muslim neighbourhoods as people greeted each other. Muslims constitute 30 % of Hyderabad’s nine million population.
Minister for Commercial Taxes T Srinivas Yadav participated in the prayers at Nallagutta Masjid in Secunderabad and greeted Muslim brethren.
In Telangana, Eid was celebrated with religious fervour in nine other districts. Major congregations were seen in the towns of Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar.
Eid was also celebrated with gaiety in Andhra Pradesh. Muslims offered Eid prayers in Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapur, Nellore, Vijayawada, Guntur and other towns in the state.
After month-long fasting, Muslims began the celebrations with prayers and greeted each other and people from other communities. Before offering prayers, every Muslim family paid Fitra or charity on behalf of each member as per the Islamic rules so that the poor can also celebrate the festival.
Well-to-do families also paid ‘Zakat’ or 2.5 % of Islamic tax on their wealth to the poor and needy in accordance with one of the basic tenets of Islam. After the prayers, Muslims visited the houses of relatives and friends to offer greetings.
Guests were treated to sheer khorma (special sweet made of vermicelli, milk and dry fruits) and other dishes. The shopping for Eid continued throughout the night and till Saturday morning. Markets around historic Charminar in the old city and other parts of the city were abuzz with shopping.
Governor of the two states E S L Narasimhan, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu and leaders of various political parties greeted Muslims.
Muslims constitute 12.43 % of Telangana’s population of 3.51 crore. They constitute 6.92 % in the five crore population of Andhra Pradesh.
Eid celebrated with enthusiasm in Rajasthan
Namaz were offered in various places across Rajasthan and in the capital Jaipur thousands of Muslims participated in the prayers held at Jama Masjid in Johri Bazar area of the city and Idgah on the outskirts.
Hundreds celebrated Eid in Ajmer, where Dargah Sharif of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is located. “We offered prayers for peace and harmony in our country,” Khalid Usmani, the chief qazi of Rajasthan, told IANS.
“We were preparing and waiting for this day as we get lot of sweets to eat and new clothes to wear,” said Aziz, a 12-year-old boy, who looked happy, attired in new clothes.
People greeted each other saying ‘Eid Mubarak’ and distributed sweets after offering namaz in the morning.
Rajasthan chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and state Congress president Sachin Pilot also greeted Muslims on the day.
Muslims in Kerala offer Eid prayers
Muslims across Kerala celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr to mark the end of the month long fasting period even as morning rain at some places, however, forced many of the faithful to stay indoors during the prayers organised at a stadium here.
The biggest crowds were witnessed in Muslim-dominated areas of the state such as Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur, as well as in Kochi and the state capital. At all the prayer centres, there were separate enclosures for women and children, who had turned up in large numbers.
Muslims in Kerala account for around 24 % of the 33 million population.
Mutton and beef stalls were crowded at most places as people queued up to get their requirements for the day. The price of mutton at some places went up to Rs 625 per kg, while beef was sold at up to Rs 300 per kg.
The state government has declared a two-day holiday on the occasion of Eid for all educational institutions and for government offices.
Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated in Maharashtra
Lakhs of Muslims came out early morning dressed in their finery to offer the special Eid congregational prayers as thanksgiving at the 600-plus mosques across Mumbai and Maharashtra. The Dawoodi Bohra community celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday while all other sects celebrated it on Saturday.
After the solemn prayers, people joyfully greeted each other with hugs and ‘Eid mubarak’ in mosques, homes and public places. Similar peaceful Eid celebrations were witnessed in important Muslim pockets of Thane, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Aurangabad, Pune, Nashik, Beed and other areas of the state.
The festival marked the culmination of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan during which Muslims observe a stringent dawn-to-dusk fast in which even water is not permitted.
After offering the Eid namaaz, it was time for the celebrations with family, friends, neighbours and community people, savouring and serving each other the festival special dish of ‘sheer-korma’, a sweet preparation of milk, vermicelli and dry fruits.
The community was not alone as they were joined in large numbers by Hindus, Christians, Jains, Parsis to meet, greet and celebrate with their Muslim brethren in suburbs like Bhandup, Kurla, Bandra, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Santacruz, Bandra and south Mumbai.
Maharashtra Governor C V Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis greeted the people of the state on Eid-Ul-Fitr in separate messages on the occasion. Maharashtra Samajwadi Party president and legislator Abu Asim Azmi also extended Eid-Ul-Fitr greetings to the people of the state and India.
Many Mumbaikars, taking advantage of the two-day holiday, made a beeline for various hill stations and beach resorts dotting the state to make the best of the festive break.
Eid in Himachal
Braving rain to take part in the morning prayers, Muslims across Himachal Pradesh celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday.
Large crowds were witnessed in Muslim-dominated areas of Shimla, Chamba and Nahan towns. The population of the Muslims in the hill state is less than 2 % of the total population of over 68 lakh.
The state government has declared a holiday on the occasion of Eid for all government offices and educational institutes.
Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated in Meghalaya
Eid-ul-Fitr was on Saturday celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across Meghalaya, a predominantly Christian state.
Thousands of men and children clad in new clothes and wearing skull caps offered prayers in Eidgahs or open grounds and mosques in Shillong, Dawki, Nongpoh, Lad Rymbai, Byrnihat and in the Garo Hills region.
The biggest congregation was at the Eidgah of India’s first glass mosque, the Madina Masjid in Shillong, where over 8,000 people offered prayers. Moulana Ghulam Rabbani led the prayers.
Every Muslim family gave to charity — fixed at Rs 60 this year
— as per Islamic rules, so that the poor can also celebrate the festival.
After the prayers, Muslims visited the houses of relatives and friends to greet them. Guests were treated to ‘sheer khorma’ (sweet made of vermicelli, milk and dry fruits) and other delicacies.
Governor V Shanmuganathan and Chief Minister Mukul Sangma greeted the people on the occasion. Shanmuganathan hoped “this joyous festival which celebrated the end of Ramadan will spread the message of brotherhood and compassion in our society.”
Sangma said Eid-ul-Fitr “celebrates the common values that unite us in our humanity and reinforces the obligation that people of all faiths have to each other. May this occasion bring abundant joy and prosperity amidst peace, love and hope.”
Muslims constitute 4 % of the nearly three million people of Meghalaya.
Protests erupt after Eid prayers in Kashmir
Protests erupted at some places in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday after the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers ended.Stone-pelting youth took to the streets in the Safa Kadal area of old city Srinagar as police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel used batons and tear smoke canisters to disperse the protesters.
The youth also engaged the security forces in pitched battles in Barzalla area of Srinagar. The protesters kept regrouping each time the security forces dispersed them.
Around 150 angry protesters started pelting stones at police in Lal Chowk area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag town. In Sogam town of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the protesters pelted stones at the security forces and raised anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.
At some places in Srinagar city, masked youths displayed Pakistan flags, but they were quickly dispersed by the police. Senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Muhammad Yasin Malik continued to remain under house arrest on Saturday as authorities did not allow them to join the congregational Eid prayers.
Other states:
While Muslims in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh celebrated Eid, the tradition of exchanging sweets and greetings at the Attari-Wagah check post was broken on Saturday following ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu sector.
“No exchange of sweets took place between both sides today (Saturday) on Eid,” BSF Deputy Inspector General (Amritsar sector) M F Farooqui told IANS. “This time, the matter was discussed but we did not get any positive response from that (Pakistan) side. We also did not pursue the matter,” he said.
The Hindi film fraternity, led by the legendary Lata Mangeshkar, Rishi Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Alia Bhatt, among others, took to micro-blogging site Twitter to wish their fans and asked them to spread “love and happiness.”