Kashmir celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr with fervour

Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated across Kashmir today as men, women and children dressed in their best thronged mosques, shrines and Eidgahs across the Valley for special prayers to mark culmination of the fasting month of Ramzan.
Muslims from all walks of life started making a beeline to the Eidgah (prayer ground) or a mosque for offering the Eid prayers as a thanksgiving for the month-long fasting.
Ramzan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is observed as a fasting period by Muslims the world over who abstain from food and water during the period extending from 30 minutes before the sunrise to sunset.

The biggest gathering of Eid prayers was witnessed at Hazratbal shrine where more than 50,000 faithful offered the Eid prayers, officials said.
The second largest gathering was held at Eidgah in the old city where more than 40,000 people offered prayers.
Big gatherings of Eid prayers were also reported at TRC and Polo ground in the heart of the city and other shrines of the city, they said, adding similar gatherings were held at all districts headquarters and major towns of the Valley.

Barring few incidents of stone-pelting after the prayers, the situation in the Valley remained peaceful.
Six persons including two policemen -- an additional Superintendent of Police and a constable -- were injured in the clashes between protesters and law enforcing agencies at various places in the Valley.

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In Jammu also, Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety here as people of all ages thronged mosques and shrines and greeted each other.
Main function was held at an eidgah in Jammu, where prayers were offered and people of different communities also exchanged greetings.
More than 5,000 faithful offered the Eid prayers, officials said.
The festival was celebrated peacefully in various parts of Jammu region and there was no incident reported from anywhere.