VIJAYAWADA: Mosques and idgahs in the city are being decked up with colourful lights, for Eid- ul-Fitr. Some shops, which have been set up exclusively for Eid-related paraphernalia in One Town area, are doing brisk business.
Muslims across the nation are ready to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr, the first day of ‘Shawwal’ in the tenth month of Islamic calendar. The three-day festival of breaking of fast - ‘Eid-ul-Fitr’ - occurs when the New Moon is sighted. The month-long fast undertaken by Muslims comes to an end on Eid. Ramazan is the special month of the year for Muslims across the world for donation, charity, self-accountability and spiritual reflection.
Muslims offer prayers at more than 50 mosques in the city and the Jama Masjid, near Kaleswara Rao Market and Hazarat Bal mosque, near the Vijayawada Railway Station, are famous for open-air Eid prayer. The other popular places for Muslims to gather for prayers include the Juma Masjid in Arundelpet, Siddiquia Masjid at Old Check-Post and Dargah at Bhavanipuram.
This year, for the convenience of 10,000 to 12,000 Muslims on the Eid day, the idgah committee members organised an open-air gathering for Namaz near Yenamalakuduru on the outskirts of the city.
Muslims decorate their homes and work places with colourful lights to celebrate the festival and pray five times in a day during Ramadan, as the Holy Book of Quran was revealed during this month.
They exchange gifts and the elders give ‘Eidee’ (token money) to children. Special and traditional cuisines like a sweet dish ‘Sheer Khurma’ and famous ‘Saviyaan’ with dates are prepared to celebrate Eid.
For the shopkeepers this will be the hectic time. The shopping malls and jewellery shops are busy packed with Eid shoppers.
“Most of the mosques buy the religious books in bulk to keep them in the mosque, for the sake of the devotees. The traditional caps, ‘kurtas’, ‘pyjamas’, ‘burqas’, prayer bead and ‘Janamaz’ are always top on the list,” said Shaik Mastan, ‘All in All’ shop owner in One Town.
Eid-ul-Fitr is the day when every Muslim gives a mandatory charity to the poor called Zakat-ul-Fitr, before they perform special prayers in mosques. Zakat is often distributed in the form of money, groceries and new clothes to the poor and needy.
Muslim scholar Ahmed Hussain said, “Charity is very important in Islam more so during Ramadan. It is mandatory and one of the pillars of Islam. A fixed percentage of the person’s savings is required to be given to the poor.” Incharge of ‘Masjid-e-Kausar‘ at Autonagar, Mohammad Rahimullah said, “Eid is an exciting culmination of this holy month, where everyone thanks ‘Allah’ for having been given the opportunity to fast and worship during the whole month.”