Eid celebrated across India

New Delhi, Jul 7: Muslims on Thursday flocked to mosques and eidgahs across the country to offer special prayers, exchanged greetings and took part in feasts with family and friends as they celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr which marks the end of Ramzan, the holy month of fasting.

In the national capital, people dressed in their festive best turned up at historic Jama Masjid, Fathepuri Masjid, Hazrat Nizamuddin and other mosques for 'namaz', wished each other 'Eid Mubarak' and exchanged gifts.

Festivities gripped Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk areas where people were busy buying sweets and savouries to welcome friends and relatives.

Ecstatic children, who were gifted 'Eidee' (money) by parents and elders, were at the forefront of the festivities, buying toys and other items from shops around the mosques. People also gave alms to the needy who had gathered around the mosques and eidgahs (prayer grounds).

Markets in various Muslim-dominated areas in the city have been decked up on the occasion. Extensive security arrangements were in place across the country, especially where large congregations took place.

People in Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala celebrated Eid yesterday. President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi have greeted people on the occasion and hoped that it will inspire all to follow the path of love and universal brotherhood and will deepen the spirit of harmony and peace in society.

Chief Ministers in several states joined the special prayers and greeted the people. Bollywood stars, too, spread the cheer and took to the social media to extend Eid greetings to their fans and peers.

In Uttar Pradesh, a spirit of bonhomie and festive cheer marked Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations as Muslims from all walks of life made a beeline for eidgahs and mosques for offering the Eid prayers.

In Lucknow, women offered 'namaaz' at Aishbagh Eidgah for the first time. Governor Ram Naik and UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav greeted people on the occasion at Eidgah. Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers, the border guarding forces of the two countries, exchanged sweets and greeted each other on the occasion at several places along the international border.

In Malda in West Bengal, festivities were marred by a mishap. A 10-year-old boy died and six others were injured when a sceptic tank on which they had gathered, collapsed during an Eid congregation.

In West Bengal, Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated across the state. A large number of Muslims assembled at the state's largest congregation on Red Road in Kolkata to offer special prayers on the occasion.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attended the special prayers. Banerjee and Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi greeted the people on Eid-ul-Fitr. Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque Mohd Nurur Rehman Barkati called for harmony and brotherhood while extending wishes and greetings to all.

"Islam never supports killing of people. Such killers have no religion. Those killing people in the name of Islam are basically goondas," Barkati said in the backdrop of terrorist attacks in Bangladesh capital Dhaka and other places around the globe.

Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated across Tamil Nadu with fervour as scores of faithful attended special prayers and exchanged greetings. Prayers for peace, prosperity and brotherhood were offered in special congregations across the state, including in Chennai, Tirunelveli, Vellore and Tiruchirappally.

Leaders in Tamil Nadu including Governor K Rosaiah, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, DMK President M Karunanidhi and PMK founder S Ramadoss among others have extended Eid greetings.

In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took part in the festivity at an eidgah in Bhopal. Thousands of Muslims offered prayers at various eidgahs and mosques. Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with gaiety and religious fervour across Maharashtra.

Celebrations were witnessed in Muslim pockets of Thane, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Aurangabad, Pune, Nashik, Beed and other areas of the state. Muslims came out early morning dressed in their finery to offer special Eid prayers at mosques in Mumbai.

Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis greeted the people on the occasion. Eid was celebrated in Hyderabad and other towns across Telangana.

Major congregations were witnessed at the historic Mir Alam Eidgah and other eidgahs at Masab Tank, Military Grounds, Mehdipatnam, Golconda, Secunderabad, Santosh Nagar and Malakpet. Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ESL Narasimhan and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao conveyed their greetings on the occasion.

In Gujarat, Eid was celebrated with gaiety and fervour. Thousands of Muslims gathered at Jama Masjid at Teen Darwaza in the old city area of Ahmedabad for 'namaz'. A large number of people also turned up at Eidgah near Kankaria Lake.

Historic Sarkhej Roza mosque also saw good number of Muslims congregating to offer prayers.

PTI