Mangaluru’s first rainless Eid-ul-Fitr in eight years

Mangaluru, Jun 5: The festival of breaking the fast i.e. Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated in Mangaluru today with traditional fervour and devotion as thousands of Muslims, many of them wearing the conventional kurta-pyjamas, thronged the Eidgah and various mosques across the city.

Incidentally, it’s the first rainless Eid-ul-Fitr in this coastal city in last eight years. From 2011 (August) to 2018 (Jun) Mangaluru had witnessed moderate to heavy rains on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr and couple of times skies had opened up during prayers.

Mangaluru Khazi Twaqa Ahmed Musliyar led the Eid prayers and delivered the sermon at the historic Eidgah mosque in Lighthouse Hill. “We have fasted for 30 days to comply with the command of Almighty Allah. Let us also lead a pious life in the remaining 11 months of the year,” he said.

He exchanged Eid greetings with the devotees and called upon them to remember the lesser privileged people and needy during the festivities. “We have a social responsibility towards the poor and needy. As long as we attend to their problems, God's blessings will continue to shower upon us,” he said.

Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister U T Khader and several people’s representatives offered prayers at Eidgah mosque. Scores of volunteers from Zeeanth Bhaksh masjid helped the police in maintaining traffic and discipline.

Children dressed in festival attire added colour to the celebrations. People wished Eid Mubarak and hugged each other as a large number of shutterbugs tried to capture the poignant scenes of the festival prayers and greetings.

The Eid prayers were held at more than three dozen prominent mosques across the city. Taqwa Masjid in Pumpwell, Masjidunnoor in Hampankatta, Ihasan Masjid near Unity Hospital, Bolar Islamic Centre in Bolar, Ibrahim Khaleel Masjid near State Bank, Jamia Masjid in Kudroli and Kachi Memon Masjid in Bunder were overcrowded with devotees. Several thousand devotees offered prayers at Central Juma Masjid in Ullal on the outskirts of the city.

In most of the mosques, clerics called upon the rich people to reach out to the needy. They also offered prayers for rains in the region and peace and prosperity across the country and the world.