Amid rains Mangaluru celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr with gaiety and fervour

Mangaluru, Jul 6: A couple of months ago, when Mangaluru was reeling under water crisis, the Muslims offered special prayers for rains braving the sun. Today, they braved the rains to offer Eid-ul-Fitr namaz in Eidgahs and mosques across the city.

The festival of fast-breaking on Wednesday was celebrated across coastal Karnataka including in Udupi and Bhatkal with traditional gaiety and pomp as greetings of Eid Mubarak' and Taqabbal allahu minna wa minkum' (May Allah accept it from you and us) were exchanged with gentle handshakes and affectionate hugs.

The incessant rains did not dampen the festive spirit as a large number of devotees thronged the historic Eidgah mosque in Light House Hill. It was drizzling lightly when people started gathering at the Eidgah. But, a few minutes before namaz, the skies opened up and the devotees were drenched from head to toe.

Twaqa Ahmed Musliyar, the Khazi of Dakshina Kannada, led the Eid prayers and delivered the traditional sermon. In his message, the Khazi urged the Muslims, who underwent a month-long spiritual training during Ramadan, to continue living a virtuous life throughout the year.

However, compared to previous years, the turnout was a bit less at Eidgah as most of the devotees preferred to offer Eid prayers at nearby mosques due to rains.

Eid namaz was held at more than three dozen prominent mosques across the city. Taqwa Masjid in Pumpwell, Masjidunnoor in Hampankatta, Ihasan Masjid near Unity Hospital, Ibrahim Khaleel Masjid near State Bank, Jamia Masjid in Kudroli and Kachi Memon Masjid in Bunder were overcrowded with devotees. Several thousand devotees offered prayers at Central Juma Masjid in Ullal.

A considerable number of women devotees also offered Eid prayer in some of the mosques.

Children, youth and elderly men embracing each other was a familiar sight in all the masjids, while Khateebs from the members of the mosques and Eid-gahs gave a clarion call to the Ummah to remain united in the face of adversities and strive to establish peace in the country.

In most of the mosques, the devotees, after offering the Eid prayers, prayed for peace, harmony and welfare of the country as well. They also prayed for the victims of violence and terrorism in Iraq, Syria, Palestine and other parts of the world.

Donning new clothes, Muslims visited houses of their relatives, where they were treated with special sweet dishes. Platters of a variety of delicious cuisines were prepared in Muslim households.

The police made elaborate security arrangements across the district to ensure peace and harmony during the festival.