Muted celebrations mark Bakrid in state

BHUBANESWAR: Muslims across the state on Saturday celebrated Eid al-Adha or Bakrid taking all the necessary precautions and offered prayers at their homes maintaining social distance.
Police had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival. They had persuaded people of the community to follow the guidelines for the prayers instead of visiting the mosques or Eid gahs.
This is the second Muslim festival to be observed amid the coronavirus restrictions across the world. Eid ul-Fitr was also marked by low-key celebrations on May 25.
Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakrid or a festival of sacrifice, is observed on the tenth day of Dhu al-hijja, the twelfth and last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It also marks the end of the Haj pilgrimage, which was cancelled owing to the pandemic this year.
“Though the celebrations looked subdued, we offered prayers at our homes following the government guidelines. We prayed for peace, unity, integrity, universal brotherhood and an end to this pandemic,” Mujibur Rahman, a retired government employee and a former member of Urdu Academy in the city, said.
“No doubt, we missed the charm of mass prayers at Eid gah or mosques as well as inviting guests to our homes. But following the government’s Covid guidelines is more important than festivities at this juncture,” Abdul Hafiz, a research scholar in the city, said.
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