Eid celebrated with fervour

New Delhi, Aug 31 (PTI) A festive atmosphere reigned
across the country as Muslims celebrated Eid Wednesday with
mosques and idgahs overflowing with the devout who offered
special prayers, handed out alms to the needy and exchanged
gifts and greetings with friends and relatives.
In the capital, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh drove to
Vice President Hamid Ansari's residence to wish him on the
occasion. Singh, who was accompanied by Delhi Chief Minister
Sheila Dikshit and some ministers, said the festival
highlights the spirit of sacrifice and the joy of sharing.
People dressed in their festive best offered prayers at
Jama Masjid, Fathepuri Masjid, Hazrat Nizamuddin and other
mosques in the city, marking the culmination of month-long
fasting during Ramzan.
They hugged each other and wished "Eid Mubarak" ,
exchanged gifts and enjoyed special dishes, particularly
'sewayian' made of vermicelli and different varieties of
biryani. Elders gave 'eidee' (token money) to children dressed
in colourful attire and visited relatives.
In north Indian state Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah offered prayers at Sonwar shrine. The largest
gathering was witnessed at Eidgah in downtown Srinagar, where
moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq delivered the
sermon, followed by Hazratbal shrine.
Thousands of people offered prayers at Baramulla,
Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Budgam, Pulwama and
Kupwara districts. Youths burst crackers to celebrate the
occasion. Shops and stalls were decked for the festival and
remained crowded till the wee hours.
Police said two persons were injured in clashes between
stonepleters and police which erupted in some parts of the
Valley after Eid prayers.
The borders too were drenched in festivities as Indian
and Pakistani troops exchanged sweets along the Line of
Control (LoC) at Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch. Border Security Force(BSF) officers exchanged greeting
with Pak Chinab Rangers at Octerio border out post along the
international border in R S Pura sub-sector in Jammu district
North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh(UP) Chief Minister
Mayawati visited Aishbagh Eidgah in the state capital Lucknow
and greeted people on the occasion of Eid.
"We prayed for the nation's prosperity and communal
harmony," head cleric Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahli
told reporters.
Tight security arrangements were made by authorities in
several states, including in UP where 60 companies of
Provincial Armed Constabulary, Rapid Action Force and Rapid
Response Force were deployed. Major congregations were held in
Allahabad, Varanasi, Bareilly, Varanasi and Agra and the
festival was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety.
In eastern Indian city Kolkata, the main Eid prayers,
traditionally held on Red Road in the Maidan area of the city,
were led by Maulana Kari Fazlur Rahaman.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee greeted the worshippers
after the prayers, the first time that a state chief minister
visited the prayer site on Eid in the state.
Prayers were also held at the city's heritage Nakhoda
Mosque and the Tipu Sultan Mosque and other houses of worship
in Rajabazar, Kolutolla, Park Circus and Khidderpore areas.
Fairs were organised in many districts on the occasion.
In south Indian state Tamil Nadu, special 'namaz' were
organised in Big Mosque (Triplicane) and Thousand Lights
Mosque in Chennai, the Nagore dargah and the mosque in
Goripalayam in Madurai.
Several Bollywood and sport personalities took to Twitter
to wish their friends and fans good health and happiness.
"Eid Mubaarak to all my Indian sisters and brothers.
Sometimes I feel that all these festivals are glittering
ornaments on the body of time," said lyricist Javed Akhtar.
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan said, "Eid Mubarrak to all
brothers and sisters, young and old, near and dear. Happy
greetings for EID! May there be peace and love among all...
and may all your wishes come true."