Lucknow, March 21 Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with enthusiasm and religious fervor across Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, with devotees offering prayers at Eidgahs and mosques. Devotees in some places wore black armbands as a mark of protest against the conflict in West Asia.
In Lucknow, the main congregation was held at the Aishbagh Eidgah, where a large number of worshippers offered namaz under the leadership of Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli. Special prayers were offered for peace, progress, and brotherhood in the country.
In Jhansi, Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with joy and prayers for peace and communal harmony, although members of the Shia community observed the festival in a subdued manner as a mark of protest over the Iran war.
Following the prayers in Lucknow, special supplications were made for global peace, an end to conflicts, and the well-being of people across the world, including those affected in the Middle East.
Maulana Khalid Rasheed called upon the Government of India to play a proactive role in promoting global peace, noting the significant contribution of Indians living abroad.
Leaders from different religious communities, including Christian and Sikh representatives, also attended the gathering.
Several political leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rajendra Chaudhary, Naseemuddin Siddiqui, and Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Rai, attended the gathering and extended greetings. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma also visited the Eidgah.
Around five lakh people offered prayers at the Eidgah under the leadership of Mahli.
According to local sources, members of the Sunni community offered prayers at Aishbagh Eidgah and the Teele Wali Masjid, while Shia devotees gathered at the Asifi Mosque (Bada Imambara) and Jama Masjid in Thakurganj.
Reports from Sambhal, Kaushambi, Deoria, and Amethi indicated that the festival was celebrated peacefully amid tight security.
In Sambhal, prayers were offered at 765 mosques and 117 Eidgahs, Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said, adding that large congregations were seen at the Shahi Jama Masjid and local Eidgahs after the conclusion of the month-long Ramzan fasts.
Some people in Sirsi town offered prayers wearing black armbands to protest against the attack on Iran by the US. Samajwadi Party MP Zia ur Rahman Barq said that people have the right to protest.
In Kaushambi, thousands gathered at the Shahi Eidgah in Manjhanpur, with police maintaining strict vigil to ensure law and order.
In Deoria, District Magistrate Divya Mittal and Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Suman inspected key locations, including the Eidgah on Malviya Road and Jama Masjid, to oversee security arrangements.
In Amethi, the festival was marked by communal harmony, with prayers offered at 117 mosques and 110 Eidgahs under tight security and drone surveillance, the officials said.
District Magistrate Sanjay Chauhan and Superintendent of Police Saravanan T monitored arrangements at the Jais Eidgah and extended greetings to the public.
In Jhansi, thousands gathered at the Eidgah on Datia Road, where Imam Mufti Sabir Kazmi led the traditional prayers. Prominent attendees included former Union minister Pradeep Jain Aditya and other local leaders.
Shia devotees in Jhansi offered prayers at a mosque in Mewatipura, where Maulana Naved Abdi led the namaz. Many in the community wore black armbands and refrained from wearing new clothes as a symbolic protest. The cleric said the observance reflected opposition to actions by the US and Israel and noted that similar sentiments were being expressed by Shia communities globally.
In Mau and Bareilly, the festival was marked by large gatherings, communal harmony, and tight security arrangements. In Mau, prayers were offered at 461 mosques and Eidgahs, with MP Rajeev Rai greeting people at the Aurangabad Eidgah. Authorities deployed heavy security, including PAC personnel and drone surveillance, to ensure peaceful celebrations.
In Bareilly, devotees thronged Eidgahs and mosques, including the Bakarganj Eidgah, where Mufti Asjad Raza Qadri led the prayers, with special supplications offered for the country's progress and peace as well as for Muslims in Palestine.