Muslims in Bangladesh are celebrating their biggest religious festival Eid-ul-Fitr with fervour after a month of fasting while the country is battling with coronavirus pandemic.
The devotees are celebrating the festival for the second consecutive year amid the nationwide restrictions to choke the spread of Covid-19 infection.
Like the previous year, Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated without any outdoor program and Eid congregations at Eidgah or open spaces across the country as most Muslim majority countries, including Bangladesh, around the world have called on their citizens to limit their movement and face to face contact during this year's celebrations.
No Eid jamaat (congregation) was held at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises in the capital this year due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The devotees mostly offered their Eid prayers at mosques throughout the country as advised by the Religious Affairs Ministry, maintaining recommended health guidelines.
Devotees, wearing masks, attend the first Eid congregation at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Friday, May 14, 2021 | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
Earlier, the ministry said at a circular that the devotees must wear masks inside mosques and avoid using prayer mats and caps that were stored there.
Children, elderly people, people with physical ailments, and those taking care of the sick should not be allowed to attend Eid jamaats, it suggested.
Apart from these, the devotees have been requested to avoid shaking hands and the customary hugging after the prayers, the notification added.
Five Eid jamaats were held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka on Friday, reports BSS.
The first Eid congregation was held at 7am while the next four at 8am, 9am, 10am, and 10:45am respectively.
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Special doa was also offered at the mosques seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of those who died of fatal Covid-19 and also wishing for the early recovery of the Covid patients throughout the country as well as across the world.
As the Shawwal moon was not sighted in Bangladesh on Wednesday evening, the Eid festival is being celebrated on Friday.
Meanwhile, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the nation in separate messages on the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Fitr.
In her address to the nation on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged all to use masks, wash hands regularly with soap and follow other health protocols to stay safe.
She also urged Muslims to celebrate Eid where they are now.
Eid-ul-Fitr is an Arabic word meaning "festival of breaking the fast." The festival marks an end to the Muslims fasting month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during the holy Ramadan.
On the Eid day morning, Muslims gather at mosques and prayer venues to perform Eid prayers and greet each other.
The festival is usually celebrated by visiting friends and relatives, hosting food parties and sharing sweets.
Children not only get new clothes and shoes, but also receive cash gifts called "Salami" from their elders, relatives and well-wishers.
The occasion is seen as a time of forgiveness and giving thanks to Allah for helping people complete their month-long spiritual fasting. Many Muslims distribute cash and food to the less fortunate ones.
Devotees attend the first Eid congregation at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Friday, May 14, 2021 | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
But, this year, the Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated in a somber manner as the government has imposed restrictions on all social gatherings and urged the devotees to celebrate the festival with only family members indoors instead of visiting relatives' houses and outing around in the wake of the pandemic.
In line with the government directives, Dhaka north and south city corporations decided not to hold any Eid congregations on open spaces, including at the National Eidgah.
Besides, the historic Eid jamaat at the Sholakia Maidan in Kishoreganj has also been cancelled, like the previous year, given the Covid-19 situation.
President Abdul Hamid along with his family members and some senior government officials offered Eid prayers at Darbar hall of Bangabhaban at 10:30am.
Despite the risk of virus infections, thousands of people have already left the capital to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones at their native homes.
The main city streets and road islands have been decorated with the national flag and banners inscribed with "Eid Mubarak" in both Bangla and Arabic.
Television channels and radio stations are telecasting special programs marking the occasion.
Special diets are being served in hospitals, jails, government children's homes, Chhotomoni Nibash, centres for persons with disabilities, shelter homes, orphanages, vagrant welfare and destitute welfare centres.
