Muslims in parts of India say arrangements for Eid-ul-Azha prayers are increasingly being shaped by restrictions on public gatherings, with mosque committees urging worshippers to avoid spilling onto roads and open spaces, reports Al Jazeera.
In Maliyana village of Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh, mosque committee members gathered worshippers ahead of Eid to discuss logistics under tight conditions, including police permissions, crowd control and designated prayer shifts.
“Please don’t gather outside the mosque gates,” a committee member told nearly 50 worshippers. “If the mosque fills up, wait for the next shift. Avoid arguments and avoid videos.”
Worshippers said they have been receiving repeated advisories on messaging platforms, including police notices urging Muslims not to offer prayers in public spaces.
The concerns come as Eid preparations continue across several Indian states, particularly Uttar Pradesh, where local authorities have tightened monitoring of public religious gatherings in recent years.
Growing caution over public prayers
Muslim residents say restrictions on offering prayers in open spaces such as roads, parks and vacant plots have increased over the past decade, often justified by authorities on grounds of traffic management and public order.
Right-wing Hindu groups have also staged protests against public namaz in various areas, further intensifying scrutiny over public religious gatherings.
Some mosque committees say they are now proactively scaling down arrangements to avoid confrontation with authorities.
“We are trying to ensure there is no crowding outside the mosque,” a committee member in Meerut said.
In several towns, worshippers are being advised to attend prayers in shifts or disperse immediately after congregations end.
‘People are naturally cautious’
Residents in Uttar Pradesh say fear of legal action or public backlash has changed how Eid prayers are organised.
“Last year, some people faced cases for offering prayers in open areas. After that, people are naturally cautious,” a Muslim resident of Meerut said, requesting anonymity.
In some areas, local residents say even brief gatherings outside mosques are being discouraged.
Earlier reports of permissions being withdrawn for public prayer sites and police intervention at open gatherings have contributed to a more restrained atmosphere this year.
Shift in Eid atmosphere
Traditionally, Eid mornings in many parts of India involve large congregations at Eidgahs and open grounds due to space constraints in neighbourhood mosques.
However, residents say arrangements are now increasingly focused on controlling visibility and crowd movement.
“For many, Eid is no longer just about prayer, but also about avoiding unnecessary attention,” said a mosque committee member in western Uttar Pradesh.
Analysts say this reflects a broader shift in how public space is negotiated for religious expression in parts of India, where visibility itself has become sensitive.
Quiet preparations continue
Despite concerns, Eid preparations are underway across Muslim communities. Markets remain busy, mosques are being cleaned, and volunteers are organising prayer arrangements.
But residents say uncertainty over public prayers continues to shape the tone of the festival.
“Nobody wants confrontation,” a trader in Delhi said. “People just want to pray peacefully and return home.”
For many, however, the question ahead of Eid is not only where prayers will be held — but how publicly they can be performed without drawing scrutiny or tension.
