Muslims in Maharashtra celebrated Eid-al-Fitrwith great fervour and gaiety.
Lakhs of Muslims clad in traditional attire trooped out at dawn to the nearest mosque in places like Dahisar, Borivli, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Marol, Bandra, Sion, Byculla, Mazagaon, Ghatkopar and other areas of state capital Mumbai to offer the thanksgiving “khutba” or special Eid namaaz.
For the first time in over two decades, the main Eid-al-Fitr prayers could not be held at the historic Azad Maidan owing to rain, Syed Zafar, a senior citizen residing in Nagpada, south Mumbai, said.
Elsewhere in Maharashtra, traditional pomp and enthusiasm marked Eid-al-Fitr celebrations in Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Pune Nashik, Aurangabad, Beed, Latur, Nanded and other districts in the state. The festival was celebrated with gusto in Muslim-dominated towns like Bhayander, Mira Road, Bhiwandi, Mumbra, Malegaon, Alibaug and others across the state.
Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, state Congress chief Manikrao Thakre, AICC general secretary in-charge of the state Mohan Prakash, AICC general secretary Gurudas Kamat and AICC secretary Sanjay Nirupam were among the prominent people sending out Eid-al-Fitr greetings.
Meanwhile, heavy security was deployed in all Muslim pockets in Mumbai and other parts of the state to ensure peaceful celebrations.
JPN/Agencies
