Eid celebrated with fervour across India

New Delhi, June 16: Millions of people across the country on Saturday celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with fervour and gaiety as President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the citizens joy and harmony. People celebrated Eid, which marks the end of fasting month of Ramadan, by offering prayers, visiting relatives and friends and exchanging greetings and sweets. Many distributed clothes and fruits to the poor. In Delhi, thousands of Muslims turned up at the Jama Masjid, Makki Masjid, Fatehpuri Masjid, Masjid Jamia Milia Islamia, Masjid Faiz-e-Illahi and other mosques to offer Eid prayers before starting their celebrations. Leaders across the political spectrum shared greetings and offered namaz at the Parliament Street mosque. Guests were treated to sheer khorma — special sweet made of vermicelli, milk and dry fruits. In Mumbai and he rest of Maharashtra, the faithful, clad in their festival finery, congregated at the 600-plus mosques in the city and other parts of the state to offer the special Eid namaaz, in many areas braving heavy rains. The biggest congregation was witnessed at the Jama Masjid, instead of the Azad Maidan, on account of rain fears. Besides mosques, homes in many Muslim areas were illuminated and decked up with colourful fairy lights and flowers.

The biggest congregation was held at Mir Alam Eidgah in Hyderabad. More than two lakh people offered namaz at this historic site. The shopping for Eid continued throughout the night and till Saturday morning. Markets around historic Charminar in the old city and other parts of Hyderabad were abuzz with shopping. Other parts of the country including Gujarat, Bihar, Assam and Tamil Nadu too reported Eid celebrations, with prayers and people hugging each other in mosques, marquees, halls and homes, sharing greetings of ‘Eid Mubarak’ and offering each other the Eid dish ‘Sheer-Korma’. (IANS)