Millions celebrated Eid-al-Adha or Bakri Eid with gaiety across India on Friday but the Haj tragedy in Saudi Arabia that killed over 700 pilgrims including 14 Indians cast a shadow.
Idgah grounds and mosques across the country attracted tens of thousands of dominantly men and children who offered prayers and extended Eid greetings.
Reports of celebrations poured in from Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, distant Lakshadweep and even Meghalaya.
Kerala celebrated the festival on Thursday.
Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged sweets on the occasion on the Line of Control in Poonch, Kupwara and Baramulla districts in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Border Security Force of India and Pakistan Rangers similarly exchanged sweets and greetings at their only land border in Punjab at Attari, not far from Amritsar.
Special prayers were also offered on Friday for those who died in a stampede at the Haj at mosques in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, Aurangabad, Pune and other parts of Maharashtra.
The severe drought in Maharashtra and the state-wide ban on beef, enforced strictly since May, also added to the no-frills celebrations in the State.
In Lucknow, which often sees Shia-Sunni tensions, the two communities came together to celebrate Eid.
Thousands wearing new clothes and skull caps prayed in idgahs and mosques in Shillong, Dawki, Nongpoh, Lad Rymbai and Byrnihat and in the Garo Hills.
Muslims in Madhya Pradesh celebrated with special Eid prayers. The main congregation was held at idgah in Bhopal.
Rajasthan Muslims too celebrated Eid. The main prayers were performed at idgah on Jaipur’s outskirts and in Ajmer, home to the shrine of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti.-IANS
