Kashmir celebrates Eid-ul Fitr

Kashmir celebrates Eid-ul Fitr

Barring protests at some places, Eid-ul Fitr was today celebrated across Kashmir with thousands of devotees flocking the mosques, shrines and prayer grounds in the Valley to offer the special prayers.

Dressed in their best, Muslims -- men and women of all ages accompanied by children -- made a beeline to the Eidgahs (prayer grounds), mosques and shrines to offer prayers which mark the end of fasting month of Ramadan.

The fasting month came to an end yesterday with the sighting of the crescent moon as Muslims follow the lunar calendar.

The biggest gathering of the devotees was witnessed at Hazratbal Shrine with around 60,000 people while Eidgah ground in old city recorded an attendance of 35,000 devotees.

Tourist Reception Centre ground near Lal Chowk also witnessed a large attendance of around 25,000 people, official sources said, adding over 10,000 Muslims offered prayers at Syed Yaqoob Shah Shrine at Sonawar.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah were among those who offered prayers at the Hazratbal shrine, the sources said.

Large gathering were also witnessed at Jenab Sahib Soura, Makhdoom Sahib, Iqra Masjid and Jamia Masjid Barzulla.

Reports of Eid celebration and congregational prayers were also received from all major towns and district headquarters of the Valley, the sources said.

While Eid prayers passed off peacefully in most parts of the Valley, violent protests erupted soon after the prayers at Eidgah in Old City and Hyderpora in Civil Lines area.

Reports of protests were also received from Sopore town in north Kashmir Baramulla district and Anantnag town in south Kashmir, the sources said.

Hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for peaceful protests across the Valley to protest against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru inside Tihar Jail in February this year.

All the top ranking separatist leaders including Geelani, chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik have been placed under house arrest as a preventive measure, the sources said.