People offer Eid-ul Fitr prayers at mosques in Uttar Pradesh

The people in Uttar Pradesh offered special Eid-ul Fitr prayers in various mosques this morning.

Afterwards, they embraced and greeted each other and offered Eid's good wishes.

Lakhs of people offered Namaz at Nadwa College, Eidgah Aishbagh, Tile Wali Masjid, Asifi Imambara and at all other major mosques in Lucknow.

The state administration has made elaborate security arrangements all over the state in view of the festival.

A large number of Muslim women will be taking part in Eid namaaz at Lucknow's 300-year-old Aishbagh Eidgah this morning, making it a very special Eid for them.

Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli, the Imam of Eidgah said that while only a few women used to do so in the past, this year a separate hall of around 7000 capacity has been allocated for women namazi.

The cleric said that the move will dispel controversies regarding gender disparity in the community.

Besides, the idea behind the invite to women for Eid namaz is to rubbish misconceptions that clerics and Islamic leaders are against rights granted to women by Islam.

The practice is prevalent in Arab countries and men and women offer namaz together at the Eidgah and Islam doesn't prohibit women from doing so.