Telangana, Andhra to celebrate Eid Tuesday

Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Tuesday as the new moon was sighted Monday in most parts of the country.

The weather in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana was cloudy but Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee or moon sighting committee announced that since the moon was sighted in many parts of the country, Eid will be celebrated Tuesday.

Moulana Qubool Pasha Shattari, who presided over the meeting of the committee, told reporters that the moon of Shawwal was sighted in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and other states. "Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Tuesday July 29," he said.

Following the announcement, sirens were blared from hundreds of mosques across Hyderabad to signal the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Eid prayers will be offered Tuesday morning in Eidgahs or open grounds and the mosques.

Meanwhile, intermittent rains throughout Monday dampened the festive spirit in Hyderabad. The showers affected the business in the old city and other Muslim-majority areas in the city.

The shoppers received some respite in the evening as rains receded. Thousands of men, women and children thronged the illuminated markets to buy new clothes, footwear, groceries and other items for celebrating Eid.

Long traffic jams were seen in the old city, Nampally, Mehdipatnam, Toli Chowki and other areas as people took to streets for last-minute shopping. The markets will remain open throughout the night.