The festival of Eid was celebrated with customary religious fervour and gaiety in the State capital on Thursday. The day started with the ceremonial Namaz in different mosques of the city.
Eidgah near the Bindal Bridge on Chakrata road was the site of a huge congregation where a mass Namaz was held at 9.30 am with devotes urging for universal peace and harmony. The Namazis offered Jakat and Sadka-e- fitar- (gifts and alms) to the poor on their way to offer Namaz.
The Sahar Quazi (Sunni) Molana Saiyyed Asraf Hussain Quadari led the Namazis at Eidgah. He appealed the people to respect all religions and work for the welfare of humanity and said that the Eid is a gift of Allah to all those who undertook Rozas during the holy month of Ramazan.
The Namazs were offered in the major mosques like Dhamwala, EC Road, Muslim Colony, Paltan Bazar, Clement town, Mazra and Ajabpur. After the Namaz, Muslims visited the places where their ancestors are buried and offered prayers there.
After the morning Namaz the process of extending wishes to each other on the holy day started and it extended till late evening. People were seen wearing new clothes and purchasing edibles from the markets which were all decked up for occasion.
People offered Sweets and sewai to the visitors. For children it was an enjoyable day they visited the homes of the friends and relatives and got Eidi from elders. Many youngsters thronged the cinema halls where the latest movie ‘Sultan’ of their favorite star Salman Khan was being screened.
However, the Shia community of the Muslims observed the Eid on Wednesday. The Shia city Quazi Saiyyad Shehanshah Hussain Jaidi said that top Shia cleric Kalbe Sadik had declared the time of celebration of Eid.
Addressing the Namazis he said that the true happiness of Eid lies in extending its happiness to the poor and needy. He appealed that one should follow the path shown by Allah and never engage in activities which hurt others.
The Police had made elaborate arrangements in and around all religious places to ensure that no untoward incident occurs on the holy festival of Eid.