Eid prayers offered peacefully across Jammu and Kashmir

Officials said the congregational Eid prayers passed off peacefully across the valley.

In Srinagar, authorities did not allow the Eid prayers in the Jamia Masjid.

The authorities had allowed prayers at the mosque on Shab-e-Qadr and last Friday of Ramadan.

The managing body of the grand mosque- Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid- expressed strong resentment against the administration for disallowing the Eid prayer for the fourth consecutive year.

Anjuman said that police and civil authorities informed them late on Friday evening that Eid prayers would only be allowed at Jamia Masjid if held before 7.30 am which was not possible for the them as it had already made the programme of offering Eid prayer at 9 am as people from far-flung areas come to offer Eid prayer at the Jamia.

Anjuman said that “unreasonable” conditions were applied for allowing Eid prayers.

"Jama Masjid is a central place of congregational prayers in the valley and not some local masjid …. To facilitate people from across the valley to reach these central places, prayers timings are decided accordingly…

"It is strange that if congregational prayers can be allowed at other places, why not at Jama Masjid, why unreasonable conditions are being applied here?" the managing body said.

"We fail to understand that while the grand occasions of Shab-e-Qadr and Jummat-ul-Vida were performed by a large number of people in Jama Masjid in a pleasant and peaceful atmosphere, why were the Eid prayers barred?" they asked.

The Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, marking the end of fasting month of Ramadan, commenced across the Kashmir valley on Sunday.

The Eid celebration began early in the morning as thousands of Muslims offered special prayers. The main congregations in the city were held at the Hazratbal shrine.

Eid-ul-Fitr is commemorated on the first day of Shawwal, a month in the lunar Islamic calendar that follows Ramazan.

Reports from other districts said Eid prayers were held peacefully.