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Malegaon:
Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan,
was Saturday celebrated with traditional enthusiasm throughout
India with Muslim men and women along with their children holding
special prayers at Eidgah maidans normally located outside the
respective towns.
Though there were special mentions
of ensuing Ayodhya verdict and the plan to burn the Holy Quran by
a US Pastor in the Eid speeches, the Imams urged the Muslims to
maintain calm and restraint at every cost.
Rains fail
to dampen Delhi's Eid spirit
Not letting the rains dampen their
festive spirit, hundreds of Muslims offered prayers at the
historic Jama Masjid today morning on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
"The weather was just amazing with a cool breeze blowing. The only
issue was that we had to sit on slush covered with plastic sheets
while offering our prayers at Jama Masjid," said 22-year-old Miraj
Ahmed.
Fauzan Umar, a resident of Darya Ganj, was a little late for the
prayers.
"I had planned to visit Jama Masjid in the morning to offer
prayers but because of the rains, I had to postpone it by an
hour," said 23-year-old Umar.
The Jama Masjid, one of the seven Mughal Emporor Shahjehan built
in 1656, looked spectacular as a large number of people, mostly
clad in white, offered congregational Eid prayers. Prayers were
also held in Idgah and small mosques across the capital.
Maharashtra in
festive mood
Due to the
heavy showers Friday night, Muslims in Mumbai could not offer Eid
prayers at Eidgah grounds. However, they converged in the 200-plus
mosques around the city to offer the Eid prayer. In other parts of
the state, people came out in large numbers to offer Eid prayers
at Eidgahs. Special arrangements were made for women worshippers
at some Eidgah grounds.
In Malegaon, the Muslim dominated
town in North Maharashtra, Imams though made special mention of
the Ayodhya verdict expected in this month and about US Pastor's
plan to burn the Holy Quran that he ultimately cancelled, they
advised the gathering to maintain peace and harmony at every cost.
"The plan to burn our Holy Book is
one of those evil acts that nowadays are designed to provoke us so
that they can malign we Muslims and Islam. This is the time hence
to observe total restraint and maintain peace at every cost",
Maulana Abu Rizwan urged the Muslims gathered at Mohammadia Eidgah
in Malegaon.
Gaiety in Karnataka
Hundreds of Muslims gathered at
mosques and Eidgah maidans across Bangalore despite a morning
drizzle, offered prayers and warmly greeted one another to mark
the end of the month-long Ramadan fast. They also gave alms to the
poor.
Rains late Friday and early Saturday had left the maidans in
Bangalore wet and slushy but that did not deter the worshippers
from gathering in large numbers to offer Eid prayers.
Traditional
fervour in Lucknow
Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of the
holy fasting month of Ramadan, was Saturday celebrated with
traditional enthusiasm here with Muslims holding special prayers
for communal harmony and peace ahead of the Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri
title suit verdict Sep 24.
"We prayed for communal harmony and prosperity of the country.
Special prayers were offered for strengthening the bonding between
Hindus and Muslims as we want that the judgment in any case should
not affect the unity," Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahli, a
prominent Sunni cleric who heads Lucknow's oldest Islamic
seminary, told reporters here.
The main function was held at the Aisbagh Eidgah, the biggest
prayer ground in the city, where special prayers were offered.
Amid heavy security arrangements, Chief Minister Mayawati arrived
at the Eidgah to greet Muslims on the occasion.
Intermittent rain in parts of Lucknow failed to dampen the festive
spirit as Muslims congregated at various mosques to offer the
namaz.
On the occasion, clerics exhorted Muslims to continue pious deeds
even after Ramadan and abide by the Quran.
Protests in
Srinagar
Massive protests erupted after the
Eid-ul-Fitr prayers in Srinagar Saturday as separatists led a
procession to the city centre while a mob torched a police barrack
outside the Hazratbal shrine.
Authorities had not imposed curfew or restrictions anywhere in the
Kashmir Valley to allow people to offer Eid prayers and celebrate
the festival.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat group, was
leading a huge procession to city centre Lal Chowk after offering
Eid prayers at the Eidgah grounds in the Old City area of Srinagar.
However, as per the original programme, devotees were to offer
prayers at the Eidgah grounds and then disperse peacefully to
celebrate the festival.
"The decision to lead a march to city centre Lal Chowk by the
Mirwaiz is definitely aimed at orchestrating and fomenting
anti-national feelings," said an intelligence officer here.
After offering Eid prayers, a large procession of people gathered
outside the Hazratbal shrine and torched the barracks of the local
armed police posted on duty at the shrine.
"The guards fired warning shots in the air. Nobody has been
wounded in the incident," a police officer said here.
Police and paramilitary Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are posted at various sensitive places
and despite provocative slogans by the mobs, no force has been
used by the security forces anywhere in Srinagar, a police officer
said.
"The situation is very tense and we are monitoring it closely,"
the officer said.
"Instructions have been given to the deployed security forces to
maintain restraint so that the designs of anti-social elements who
are trying to incite people to violence are defeated," he added.
Fatehpuri Imam
regrets killings in Kashmir
The Shahi Imam of one of India's
largest mosques here Saturday regretted the killings of civilian
protesters in the Kashmir Valley by security forces.
Addressing a massive Eid gathering in and outside the 17th century
Fatehpuri mosque, Mufti Mohammed Mukharram said it was a pity that
while security forces used rubber bullets in some places in India,
they were using live ammunition to break up demonstrations in
Kashmir.
"While we want our country to progress and in peace, what is
happening in Kashmir is not right," the Shahi Imam said. "What is
happening there should not be happening."
The Imam was referring to the wave of protests in the Kashmir
Valley, including Srinagar, since June that have led to the death
of nearly 70 people, mainly in firing by security forces.
"Muslims in India should have equal rights," his brother and Naib
Shahi Imam, Maulvi Mohammed Muazzam Ahmed, quoted the Shahi Imam
as saying in a speech before the faithful.
The Imam said: "Muslims should be treated with respect and
dignity."
Many thousands crowded the sprawling Fatehpuri mosque at the edge
of the famed Chandni Chowk for the Eid prayers that mark the end
of the Muslim month of fasting known as Ramadan.
An equal number were spread all over the road leading to the
mosque, all the way to the Town Hall in the centre of Chandni
Chowk. Hundreds stood on rooftops of houses all around the mosque.
With inputs from IANS
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