Mangalore, August 31: Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated across the coastal districts on Wednesday with traditional fervour and devotion as thousands of Muslims, many of them wearing the conventional kurta-pyjamas, thronged various mosques in Mangalore to offer Eid prayers.
Braving windy weather, hundreds of Muslims in Mangalore offered Namaz at Eidgah Masjid in Light House Hill. Mangalore Qazi Twaqa Ahmed Musliyar led the Eid prayers and delivered the sermon. Despite overcast conditions, large number of devotees had gathered at the masjid where make-shift roofing had been provided in view of the incessant rains over the last few days.
Until the Namaz was offered at 8:00am, rains had stayed away, but as the Qutba began skies opened up forcing people to squeeze themselves under the roofs and also inside the mosque, where already people had virtually crammed in hundreds.
However, chaos was averted as it turned out to be a light drizzle and did not hamper the proceedings in a significant way. In his customary sermon, the Qazi exhorted the Muslims to follow the taqwa (God-consciousness) in their lives. “We have fasted for 30 days to comply with the command of Almighty Allah. Let us also lead a pious life in the remaining 11 months of the year,” he said.
He exchanged Eid greetings with the devotees and called upon them to remember the lesser privileged people and needy during the festivities. “We have a social responsibility towards the poor and needy. As long as we attend to their problems, God's blessings will continue to shower upon us,” he said.
In his Eid message, the chairman of Zeenath Bhaksh Jumma Masjid committee, Y. Abdullah Kunhi, dwelt upon the need to lead a peaceful and harmonious life. “India is a land of many religions. We have the freedom to follow our religion. At the same time our behaviour and actions should not give a bad impression about our faith,” he said.
Children dressed in festival attire added colour to the celebrations. People wished Eid Mubarak and hugged each other as a large number of shutterbugs tried to capture the poignant scenes of the festival prayers and greetings. Scores of volunteers from Zeeanth Bhaksh masjid helped the police in maintaining traffic and discipline.
Mangalore commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh also visited the masjid and exchanged greetings with Muslim brethren.
Eid prayers were also held at other masjids of the city including Masjidunnoor, Bolar Masjid, Kankanady Masjid, Ibrahim Khaleel Masjid and Taqwa Masjid in Pumpwell.
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