- Saturday, March 01, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (22) greeted the countrymen on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan, and prayed for people’s health and well-being.
In a tweet, he said, “Greetings on Eid-ul-Fitr. May the spirit of harmony and compassion be furthered in our society. I also pray for everyone’s wonderful health and well-being. Eid Mubarak!”
Greetings on Eid-ul-Fitr. May the spirit of harmony and compassion be furthered in our society. I also pray for everyone’s wonderful health and well-being. Eid Mubarak!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2023
Indian president Droupadi Murmu also wished on the occasion, tweeting in Hindi and Urdu, “On the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, I wish all the countrymen, especially the Muslim brothers. Congratulations to the sisters. Eid, a festival of love and compassion, gives us a message to help others. Come, on this auspicious occasion of celebration, let’s all pledge together to promote brotherhood in the society.”
Other leaders also greeted the country on the occasion.
Visuals of colourful and energetic celebration of the festival emerged from all over the nation. In national capital Delhi, people hugged each other after offering namaz at Delhi’s Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in the country. People arranged for delicious food items after a month of fasting and said the occasion conveys a message of peace, brotherhood, humanity and love. People also visit their neighbours, friends and relatives on Eid and share delicacies such as “Sewai” (vermicelli).
Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival is of great significance due to the moon sighting which has been part of Islamic culture for a long time. It is believed that Prophet Muhammad used to wait for news of sightings of the crescent moon as it narrated the beginning of a new month.
Eid-ul-Fitr was also celebrated across Kashmir with traditional fervour and gaiety as the largest congregation of devotees was witnessed at the Hazratbal shrine on the banks of the Dal lake in Srinagar, the summer capital.
However, authorities did not allow Eid prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in the old city, a day after allowing Friday congregational prayers. Hopes of Eid prayers being offered at the 14th-century mosque in the city’s Nowhatta area were raised after authorities allowed the Shab-e-Qadr and Jumatul Vida prayers.
However, officials directed the Jamia Masjid management to conduct the Eid prayers at 7.30 am local time instead of 9 am. The Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid said the prayers could not be held at 7.30 am as people had to come from far-flung areas in accordance with the schedule announced earlier.
The Eid celebrations went on smoothly elsewhere with men, women and children, dressed in their best, making a beeline to mosques, eidgahs and shrines to offer prayers. The largest congregational prayers were held at the Hazratbal shrine where former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah was among the notable persons to offer prayers.
(With agency inputs)
