Millions of people across the country celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday, 16 June, as it marks the end of the holy month of Ramzan. Kerala, the only state in India to have an early start to the festival, celebrated Eid on Friday, 15 June.
People celebrated this auspicious occasion by offering prayers, visiting relatives and friends and even exchanging greetings and sweets. Many also distributed clothes and fruits to the poor.
Jama Masjid Witnessed The Largest Crowd
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. But the biggest congregation of them all 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.
In Uttar Pradesh, too, lakhs of Muslims celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with traditional fervour. The celebrations were led by Governor Ram Naik, who visited the Aishbagh Eidgah in Lucknow. Former Indian cricketer Mohd Azharuddin offered prayers at the Eidgah in Moradabad.
In Telangana, Muslims offered Eid prayers at Eidgah or open grounds and mosques in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and in other towns. Attired in new clothes and wearing skull caps, men and children thronged Eidgah and mosques since morning.
Women Joined Hands To Worship Allah
Muslim women also offered prayers at different mosques across the country.
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'.
Children Had The Time Of Their Life
But the children had the best time on this occasion. From dancing to tunes, posing for selfies to playing in circles, they celebrated Eid with abandon.
Politicians Show Unity
Leaders across the political spectrum shared greetings and offered namaz in different places. From the Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the politicians greeted Muslims on the occasion.
Bollywood Abuzz With Eid Celebrations
In Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra, people 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.
Bollywood celebrities including Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Sanjay Dutt too prayed for peace, prosperity and love on the occasion. Twitter was abuzz with greetings from the celebrities.
(With inputs from IANS.)
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