Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 10: Eid-ul-Azha was today celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety in Kashmir with heavy rains in most of the places playing spoilsport forcing people to offer it in Masjids which normally is being offered in open spaces.
Except Jamia mosque in Srinagar, Eid congregational prayers were offered in all major shrines and mosques across the Valley. The day passed off peacefully.
The biggest congregational Eid prayers were held at Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, where thousands of people including men, women and children braving the heavy rains offered Eid Namaz at 10.30 am.
Former Chief Ministers’ Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah offered Eid prayers at Hazratbal. Speaking to reporters after offering Eid prayers, Abdullah prayed that may God help people to come out of these difficult times and may Eid bring happiness and prosperity to the people.
The Eid congregational prayers were not allowed in the historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar and Eidgah as a precautionary measure. The gates of the central mosque were closed and security forces in strength were deployed around.
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Members of Muslim community, who are rendering services to pilgrims during Amarnath yatra, also offered Namaz at Baltal base camp for the Yatris. Special prayers were held for those who lost their lives in the Friday’s cloudburst which occurred near the cave shrine of Amarnath.
Namaz was also held at various shrines of the Valley including at the shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani, popularly known as Dastageer Sahab in Khanyar, Naqshband Sahab, Khan-e-Kah-e-Moula, Charar-e-Sharief and Syed Sahab Sonwar peacefully. People also offered Eid Namaz in their respective mosques across the Kashmir valley.
Special prayers were held for the peace, prosperity and tranquility of Jammu and Kashmir.
Many political and social leaders of the Jammu and Kashmir also greeted the people on the auspicious occasion.
Soon after the Eid prayers people offered sacrifices of animals in memory of sacrifice offered by Prophet Ibrahim of his son Ismail 4000 years ago.
People were later seen distributing the meat of sacrificial animals among neighbours and relatives.