Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with fervour across South India

Political leaders across the states extended warm wishes to mark the culmination of month-long daytime fasting.

ByDeeksha Devadiga

Published Apr 22, 2023 | 9:43 PMUpdatedApr 22, 2023 | 9:51 PM

Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with fervour across South India

Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala on Saturday, 22 April.

Members of the Muslim community flocked to mosques, shrines, and prayer grounds to offer special prayers.

People exchanged warm wishes and celebrated the festival relishing mouthwatering traditional feasts prepared across the states.

Special prayers across Hyderabad

In Hyderabad, Eid prayers were offered at Eidgahs and mosques with the devout attending special prayers in large numbers at Mir Alam Eidgah, Hockey Ground at Masab Tank, among other places in the city and in other parts of the state.

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A Revanth Reddy, and other leaders conveyed greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and Telangana ministers also took part in prayers.

Celebrations in Kerala

Muslims in Kerala celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with religious fervour and festivities.

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly VD Satheesan were among those who extended Eid greetings to people.

Khan joined several devotees who gathered at the Eidgah in the Kollam district to offer prayers, the Kerala Raj Bhavan said in an official release.

Vijayan took to Twitter to extend his warm wishes to everyone celebrating the festival.

During the sermons at the mosques in the state, religious leaders urged devotees to uphold the values of compassion, fraternity and social harmony and live a life adhering to the values of Islam.

In his address at the famed Palayam Juma Masjid here, Imam V P Suhaib Maulavi made it clear that Islam does not support or propagate any kind of violence.

Irrespective of their age, people could be seen hugging each other and exchanging pleasantries after the prayers in the mosques.

“Eid is also an occasion to strengthen our relationships with family members, friends and neighbours. We used to visit our near and distant family members on this day. We also do charity without any failure during the Perunnal (Eid) day,” an elderly Muslim man said at the Palayam mosque ground here.

The Kerala government declared a public holiday for all state-run offices and educational institutions today.

Shopping spree in Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, several hundreds of Muslims attended special prayers held at the Island Grounds, the Tamukkam grounds in Madurai and other parts of the State on Saturday on the occasion of Eid.

The Triplicane area in Tamil Nadu, which houses the ancient Big Mosque, wore a festive look. Shops were kept open till the wee hours today to facilitate last-minute shopping.

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi extended his Eid-Ul-Fitr greetings to all the Muslim brothers and sisters who observed month-long fasting among the five duties of Islam and celebrate the festival of brotherhood by offering alms to those in need.

In his message, Chief Minister MK Stalin said the DMK government would continue to endeavour to create an equal society as shown by Prophet Nabi.

Extending his greetings, BJP State chief K Annamalai said, “I pray that the virtues taught by Islam such as kindness, compassion, love, patience and devotion to god will increase and everyone will live in brotherhood.”

Elsewhere

In Karnataka, the faithful turned up in hundreds to offer special namaz in Idgahs and mosques.

Food Stalls in Bengaluru’s Frazer Town had locals flocking in abundance to relish on the street food.

Chief Minister Bsavaraja Bommai extended his wishes to all the Muslim friends of the country in his tweet.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Reddy wished Muslims in Andhra Pradesh on the occasion of Eid.

(With PTI inputs)