Kashmir celebrates Eid

The troubled valley broke out in gaiety on Wednesday as Muslims across Kashmir celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the culmination of holy fasting month of Ramzan, with traditional fervour and gaiety as thousands offered prayers at mosques and shrines in the Valley.

Dressed in their best, men, women and children made a beeline to the nearest Eidgah and mosque to offer Eid prayers as a mark of thanksgiving to Allah.

The fasting month of Ramzan came to an end last evening after the sighting of Shawwal moon.

The largest congregation for Eid prayers was held at Eidgah in the downtown city where moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq delivered the sermon in his capacity as the head priest of Kashmir. Nearly one lakh people are estimated to have offered prayers there.

The second largest congregation was at Hazratbal where officials said more than 60,000 faithfuls offered Eid prayers followed by TRC ground (20,000) and shrine of Syed Yaqoob Shah (15,000) at Sonwar.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah offered prayers at the Sonwar shrine.

Eid prayers were also offered in all major mosques and Eidgah in other districts of Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region, reports said.

Thousands of people offered prayers at Baramulla, Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Budgam, Pulwama and Kupwara districts, the reports said.

Children in fancy dresses made their way to gardens and parks in the city soon after the prayers. Youth burst crackers to celebrated the occasion.

Elders gave eidyan (token money) to their children and visited relatives to exchange greetings and wishes.

The celebrations did not complete on total peace however. They were briefly disrupted as a group of youth started stone pelting at security force personnel in some parts of old city after Eid prayers.

The youth were protesting against the arrest of over 70 men on August 27 following similar protests that day, officials said.

Police had to resort to tear gas shelling and baton charge to restore order in Eidgah, Safakadal and adjoining areas but none was hurt, they said.