Eid celebrated with joy across India

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 Eidul-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. Sweets were exchanged between the Indian and Pakistan security personnel to celebrate the festival of Eid at several points on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. Indian and Pakistani Army exchanged sweets on several points along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector.