Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru/Udupi
Mangaluru/Udupi, Mar 20: The festival of Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervour across Mangaluru city and Udupi district on Friday, March 20, as members of the Muslim community marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan with prayers, charity, and messages of harmony.
Dressed in elegant traditional attire, families and friends came together in Mangaluru to celebrate the essence of Eid, exchanging greetings and strengthening communal bonds. The festival, which marks the culmination of a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection, was observed with deep reverence.
Mangaluru
Udupi
Eid prayers echoed across Mangaluru at prominent mosques, including Eidgah Masjid on Light House Hill Road and Jamia Masjid in Kudroli, among others.
Special Eid prayers were held in mosques across Udupi, Kaup, Brahmavar, Kundapur, Byndoor, Hebri, and Karkala taluks. Devotees began their day by offering Fitr Zakat to the needy, emphasizing the spirit of charity and inclusiveness associated with the festival. Dressed in new attire, men, women, and children gathered at mosques to offer the special Eid Namaz. In several mosques, separate arrangements were made to facilitate women’s participation in the prayers.
Following the prayers, people greeted each other with warm embraces and exchanged Eid wishes, reflecting a strong sense of community bonding and brotherhood.
At the Doddanagudde Mosque in Udupi, Khateeb Qasim Saadi delivered a meaningful Eid message addressing people of all faiths. He highlighted that the discipline, self-restraint, and devotion practiced during the sacred month of Ramadan should not be confined to a single month but should continue to guide individuals throughout their lives. Emphasizing the social responsibility associated with the festival, he noted that feeding the hungry and supporting the poor are among the core values of Eid. He pointed out that Fitr Zakat plays a vital role in ensuring that even the most underprivileged members of society can partake in the joy of the celebration.
Khateeb Qasim Saadi also stressed the importance of communal harmony, urging people to maintain love, trust, and mutual respect with neighbours and individuals of other faiths. He cautioned against unnecessary extravagance and misconduct in the name of celebration, advising that festivities should be observed within moral and religious boundaries. Reflecting on the lessons of Ramadan, he stated that patience, compassion, and devotion to God should serve as guiding principles in everyday life. He prayed for peace, stability, and prosperity in society and expressed hope that the message of Eid would inspire global unity, mutual respect, and lasting peace.
At Udupi Jamia Mosque, Eid prayers were led by Maulana Abdur Rasheed Nadvi, while at Udupi Anjuman Mosque, Maulana Inayathulla Razvi led the prayers. On the occasion, Udupi District Muslim Okkoota President Muhammad Moula extended Eid greetings.
At the central mosque of the Udupi District Joint Jamaat, the Moolur Juma Masjid, Eid special prayers and Khutba were conducted under the leadership of Khateeb Hafiz Muhammad Ashraf Sakhafi. Coastal Development Authority Chairman M A Ghafoor participated in the prayers.
In Kundapur, an Eid procession was taken out from the Juma Masjid in the morning, followed by special Eid prayers at the Eidgah ground. At the Hashimi Mosque in Nayarkere, Brahmagiri, Imam Obaidur Rahman Nadvi led the special Eid prayers.
During the occasion, religious leaders urged the youth to stay away from substance abuse and emphasized the importance of living in harmony while fostering a peaceful environment.
"Parents must ensure that their children do not fall prey to drug abuse. Today, due to rash and negligent driving, many youths are becoming victims of road accidents. Parents should pay greater attention to their children in this regard. By celebrating festivals together with everyone, we must uphold communal harmony,” said Obaidur Rahman Nadvi, Imam, Hashimi Mosque, Nayarkere, Brahmagiri.
As a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incidents, tight police security arrangements were deployed at most mosques across Udupi district.