Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 29: During this Bakrid, mass namaz is allowed. But the participants need to necessarily be wearing masks. Namaz is allowed only inside the mosques, and not in the Idgah.

The common features of festivals like shaking of hands and embracing when exchanging greetings are banned this time.

Bakrid is being celebrated on July 31 in coastal districts and on August 1 in other places in the state. Preparations to conform with revised rules are on in the mosques. Mosque committees are busy making preparations to celebrate the festival.

As the central government has barred coming together of large crowds, as per the suggestions of the religious priests, limited people will gather inside the mosques where prayers would be offered. All precautions need to be taken in the mosques and namaz should be offered by not more than 50 people at a time. The mosque committees have been advised to make preparations to split the namaz into two or three sessions if the crowd is more.

Bakrid celebration and mass namaz are prohibited in other places like Idgah, halls, community halls, Shaadi Mahals etc.

A B Ibrahim, secretary in the department of minority welfare, Haj and Wakf, said that offering of mass prayers on account of Bakrid on July 31 and August 1 have been barred in the Idgah and in case there is more crowd, they can offer prayers inside the mosques by splitting into two or three groups.

Other rules: 1. Children aged less than ten and people over 60 have to offer namaz at home 2. Wearing of masks is mandatory at mosques 3. When offering prayers, a minimum distance of six feet between people should be maintained 4. Temperature checks, soaps, and sanitizers should be provided at mosques 5. Religious scriptures should not be handled 6. The Musalla (mats for namaz) have to be brought from home 7. The traditional system of shaking hands and embracing should not be followed 8. In case unidentified people visit mosques for prayers, special attention needs to be kept.