New Delhi:
After days of fasting, Eid-ul-Fitr, the day of feast and festivities, was celebrated by people of all religions with great fervour. Eid-ul-Fitr, which falls on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwalwas, marks the end of the period of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
Thousands of Muslims dressed in their finest clothes flocked to Jama Masjid at Delhi to offer prayers. After praying, the feast will begin.
During the past few days India has witnessed several incidents of ethnic violence in Assam. And several morphed online photos and hate messages aggravated the situation causing panic among the people from North-East in places like Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune who crowded railway stations to go back home.
Today, in his message for peace, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the shahi imam of Jama Masjid, urged the Muslims not to fall prey to rumours. "I appeal to the Muslims to not fall prey to rumours. Maintain peace and calm wherever you are," Mr Bukhari said after the prayers.
Security across the country has been beefed up to ensure a peaceful Eid. Cities like Bangalore saw special security arrangement to avoid any case of violence.
Speaking about the security arrangements, Bangalore Police Commissioner Jyoti Prakash Mirji said all the city's policemen were on duty to ensure peace in the city today. "Exhaustive bandobast has been made. All the 17,000 policemen of Bangalore city, including myself, will be on duty," he assured the city.
(With Agency inputs)