Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated in the national capital Tuesday as Muslims marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday greeted the nation on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
“Greetings on Eid-ul-Fitr. May this auspicious day strengthen the bond of peace, unity and brotherhood across our nation,” he said in a tweet.
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the culmination of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan during which Muslims observe dawn-to-dusk fast.
Tens of thousands of Muslims thronged mosques in the morning and offered prayers. They also hugged one another wishing everyone “Eid Mubarak”.
“People prayed for peace and progress in the country and in their personal lives,” Maulana Mufti Mukarram, the Naib Imam of the 17th century Fatehpuri mosque, said.
After prayers, people feasted on delicacies like ‘sewainya’ (sweet vermicelli) and akheer’ (sweet rice pudding) besides visiting friends and relatives.
Moin Shadab, a resident of Old Delhi, said: “After offering namaz, we indulged in shopping or meeting relatives for an elaborate lunch.”
According to Ayehsa Khanum, a resident of Okhla in south Delhi, Tuesday’s delicacies included mutton, lamb and chicken dishes.
“Korma, kebabs and biryani will be prepared in the evening as we have invited some friends and relatives over for dinner,” she said.
Unmindful of the heavy rain in Mumbai, Muslims came out in droves for the morning “namaaz” and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, here Tuesday morning.
Reports of peaceful and joyous Eid celebrations also came in from Muslim pockets in the state, including Thane, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Aurangabad, Pune, Nashik, Beed and other regions.
The festival marks the culmination of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan during which Muslims observe dawn-to-dusk fast.
In many of the 600-plus mosques in the city, the thanksgiving Eid prayers were held in two shifts to accommodate the huge crowds of faithful Tuesday morning.
At some mosques in the suburbs, special rain-proof marquees were erected to shelter the people coming to offer “namaaz”.
After the prayers, families, friends, acquaintances and others were greeted with the traditional “Eid Mubarak”, embracing one another and savouring delicious special Eid dish “sheer-khorma”, a sweet preparation of milk, vermicelli and dry fruits.
Hindus, Christians and other community members went near mosques and housing complexes greeting, hugging their Muslim brethren and wishing them “Eid Mubarak” in Borivli, Kandivli, Malad, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Santacruz, Bandra, Kurla, Bhandup and other areas of south Mumbai.
In separate messages, Governor K. Sankaranarayanan, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar greeted the people of the state, saying the festival symbolises peace and universal brotherhood.
The spiritiual head of Dawoodi Bohra community Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin prayed for “peace and harmony in the Muslim world” and safety of the Muslim places of worship and pilgrimage.
The Syedna also prayed for the progress and prosperity of all Indians with His benevolence and mercy on all people of the country.
South Mumbai Congress legislator Annie Shekhar and a large number of supporters went to several mosques and greeted “Eid Mubarak” to Muslims and distributed flowers to them.