Modest Eid Celebrations in valley due to Covid related restrictions

Kashmir witnessed restrained celebrations on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha on Wednesday as prayers were not held at the major mosques and shrines of the valley due to Covid-related restrictions.

A majority of the faithful marked the festival of sacrifice by offering prayers in small groups and observing social distancing in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

As per reports  people in the Srinagar city largely celebrated Eid-ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice in their homes on Wednesday, paying heed to appeals made by the authorities in view of the COVID-19.

They said that most of the major mosques here that normally attract large congregations remained closed, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and guidelines issued by the administration.

Among the major mosques in the city, where no Eid prayers were held include historical Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Dargah Hazratbal, Dastgeer Sahib, Khankah-e-Moula and several others.

Reports say that the people showed responsibility about adhering to Covid Protocol and offered prayers in a decentralised way.

They said that the COVID-19 protocol including physical distancing was strictly adhered to in local mosques of Kashmir Valley, where Eid prayers were offered by limited number of people.

In Pulwama Eid prayers were offered at around 7 AM in most of the mosques in the district during which scholars shed light on the importance of sacrifice.

“No large gathering of Eid prayers was held at any place in the district , adding that the Eid celebrations were modest amid Covid-19 pandemic.

In Budgam Eid prayers were offered at around 8 pm in Central Jamia Masjid Beerwah town, where limited gathering was allowed.

“Eid prayers were also offered in various villages of Beerwah Tehsil, Meanwhile all SOPs were followed including use of masks, sanitisers and social distancing norms in all masjids,” Aijaz said.

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar (IPS),  hailed role of people in Cooperating and said that the Eid Prayers in Local Mosques were held on peaceful note.

People behaved like responsible citizens and adhered to Covid Appropriate Behaviour, IGP said adding that “I thank people of Kashmir on Cooperating with Jammu and Kashmir Police in maintaining Covid SOPs so to keep this virus at bay”.

Several religious leaders have applauded the role of people in adhering to Covid SOPs and said that the sacrificing of animals will also go as per the government guidelines.

Eid-ul-Zuha, more commonly known as Bakr-Eid, is the festival of sacrifice observed on the tenth day of the Zil al-Hijjah, which is the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.